Free Access
| Issue |
Apidologie
Volume 24, Number 6, 1993
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|---|---|---|
| Page(s) | 564 - 568 | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:19930604 | |
Apidologie 24 (1993) 564-568
DOI: 10.1051/apido:19930604
a Department of Entomology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni, Solan -173 230, India
b RRS, HPKV, Bajaura, Kullu, (HP) India
Key words: Apis mellifera / Callistemon lanceolatus / nectar secretion / foraging behaviour
DOI: 10.1051/apido:19930604
Bottle brush Callistemon lanceolatus DC (Myrtaceae) nectar: amount, type of nectar sugars and honeybee foraging
J.K. Guptaa and J. Kumarba Department of Entomology, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry Nauni, Solan -173 230, India
b RRS, HPKV, Bajaura, Kullu, (HP) India
Abstract - The maximum amount of nectar sugars in the flowers of bottle brush, Callistemon lanceolatus, protected from nectarivores was 6.044 mg/flower 72 h after flower opening, whereas the 24-h sugar value was only 0.44 mg. Apis mellifera harvested ≈ 90% of the sugar produced by the flowers. The concentration of solutes in the nectar ranged between 25 and 40%. Only fructose and glucose were found to be present in the nectar. A mellifera visited 9.5 flowers/min to collect nectar.
Key words: Apis mellifera / Callistemon lanceolatus / nectar secretion / foraging behaviour