Stingless bees are highly social insects which populated the tropical earth 65 million years ago longer than honey bees. They are limited to tropics and subtropics lacking venom apparatus and cannot sting. Impacts of anthropogenic influences on honey bees were already reported. Based on these back ground, the objectives of this study were to 1) to characterize the swarming and drone movements of Trigona iridipennis Smith in Kerala 2) to identify the foraging behaviour, colour preference and various plants associated with Trigona iridipennis Smith for nest construction as well as dietary sources.
Feral as well as hived colonies of stingless bees were located and fixed at different parts of Kerala for observations on their foraging activity. Bee traffic was also measured during various timings across a bright sunny day in November 2013 and between colonies. Bee traffic among Trigona iridipennis Smith varied widely among the selected four colonies during various time intervals. In all the colonies bee traffic starts between 6 to 7 am and end by 7 to 7.10 pm. Bee traffic exhibited two peaks. One during 10 to 10.10 am and the other 2 to 3.10 pm. But in colony 4 the picture is different, where the morning peak was 11 to 11.10 am and the afternoon peak was 3 to 3.10 pm.
Trigona iridipennis Smith shows great diversity in plant selection for dietary as well as resin sources. The shift towards ornamental plants for foraging may be an adaptation evolved in response to human modification of the environment. The bees collect resin from a variety of sources for building nest, its maintenance and also for defence. Bee traffic is found to be related to time, season, and strength of the colony. The bees preferred white and yellow coloured flowers than pink and red. The study also highlights the various food sources of Trigona iridipennis Smith in Kerala which can be further explored for flourishing melliponiculture.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1 Study area
2.2 Study design and data collection
2.3 Statistical analysis
3. Results and discussion
3.1 Pasturage sources
3.2 Pollen source
3.3 Nectar source
3.4 Resin source
3.5 Resin collection procedure
3.6 Net-log experiment
3.7 Nesting trees
3.8 Bee traffic
3.9 Swarming
3.10 Drone movement
3.11 Colour preference
4. Conclusions
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This study aims to characterize the swarming and drone movement behaviors of the stingless bee Trigona iridipennis Smith in Kerala, while identifying their foraging patterns, color preferences, and the plant species utilized for both nest construction and dietary resources.
- Characterization of swarming behavior and drone movements in Trigona iridipennis.
- Identification of plant species serving as nectar, pollen, and resin sources.
- Analysis of bee traffic patterns and daily foraging activity across different colonies.
- Evaluation of flower color preferences among stingless bee populations.
- Assessment of the adaptive behavior of bees toward ornamental plant species in anthropogenic habitats.
Excerpt from the Book
3.5 Resin collection procedure
Resin is used for building nest, brood, honey pot, pollen pot, pillars, connectives, entrance tube and internal tunnel. Resin mixed with wax (cerumen) is used in building various structures mentioned above but their composition may vary. Resin is collected from various woody and non-woody plant sources which include latex, gum and various resins. Resin collection is a risky task which may even leads to the entrapment of worker bees inside the sticky resin. Only experienced elder bees take care of this complicated task due to its risk.
Worker bees locate the resin sources especially wounded tree barks including cut tree branches, and slowly bite the sticky resin using its strong mandibles. The collected resins were rolled into small balls using forelimbs which later transferred to the corbicula/pollen basket in the hind limbs. Many of the elder worker bees may get trapped in resin while doing this risky operation.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Provides an overview of stingless bees, their evolutionary history, social organization, and their significant role as pollinators in tropical ecosystems.
2. Materials and Methods: Details the study area in Kerala, the observational methods for tracking foraging activity, bee traffic monitoring, and the experimental setup for assessing resin collection and color preference.
3. Results and discussion: Presents findings on diverse plant sources, foraging behaviors, swarming dynamics, drone movement patterns, and the bees' preference for specific flower colors and nesting sites.
4. Conclusions: Summarizes the adaptability of Trigona iridipennis to human-modified environments and highlights the implications of these findings for the advancement of melliponiculture in the region.
Keywords
Trigona iridipennis Smith, Anthropogenic habitats, Entrance tube, Meliponiculture, Colour preference, Swarming, Stingless bees, Foraging behavior, Pollination, Kerala, Resin source, Nest architecture, Bee traffic, Floral constancy, Polylecty
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on the behavioral ecology of the stingless bee Trigona iridipennis Smith in Kerala, specifically examining their swarming, drone movement, foraging habits, and their interaction with local flora.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The study centers on understanding the environmental adaptability of these bees, their specific plant resource requirements, and how they navigate anthropogenic landscapes to sustain their colonies.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to characterize the swarming and drone movements, identify key dietary and resin-producing plants, and analyze the color preferences that influence the foraging efficacy of Trigona iridipennis.
What scientific methods were employed?
The authors utilized field observations of feral and hived colonies, quantitative measurement of bee traffic at various time intervals, and controlled experiments in select gardens to track color preference and fissure closure abilities.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body systematically analyzes foraging sources, resin collection processes, nesting tree preferences, daily flight activity, and the different modes of swarming behavior, supported by detailed tables and figures.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The study is best described by keywords such as Meliponiculture, stingless bees, foraging behavior, swarming, and anthropogenic habitat adaptation.
How does the bees' color preference influence their foraging?
The study found that Trigona iridipennis shows a distinct preference for white and yellow flowers over red and pink, suggesting that color serves as a critical visual cue for efficiently locating nectar and pollen sources.
What is the significance of the "fissure closure" experiment?
This experiment helps determine the colony's structural integrity and its ability to maintain nest security, with results indicating that stronger colonies are more efficient at sealing breaches compared to weaker ones.
Why do stingless bees engage in "aggressive swarming"?
Unlike normal swarming for reproduction, aggressive swarming is a defensive reaction to colonial invasions, leading to irregular flight movements, physical combat, and potential mortality among workers.
- Citar trabajo
- Dr. Prem Jose Vazhacharickal (Autor), Sajan Jose K. (Autor), 2014, Swarming, drone movements, foraging behavior and associated plants of stingless bees (Trigona iridipennis Smith) in Kerala, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/349822
