Free Access
Issue |
Apidologie
Volume 40, Number 2, March-April 2009
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Page(s) | 124 - 133 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/apido/2008066 | |
Published online | 03 February 2009 |
Apidologie 40 (2009) 124-133
DOI: 10.1051/apido/2008066
Laboratory of Apiculture & Sericulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Agroktima Panepistimiou, 57001, Thermi Thessaloniki, Greece
Received 25 June 2008 – Revised 16 October 2008 – Accepted 22 October 2008 - Published online 3 February 2009
Key words: Apis mellifera / nurse bees / pollen consumption / melissopalynology
© INRA, DIB-AGIB, EDP Sciences 2009
DOI: 10.1051/apido/2008066
Pollen analysis of honeybee rectum as a method to record the bee pollen flora of an area
Maria Dimou and Andreas ThrasyvoulouLaboratory of Apiculture & Sericulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Agroktima Panepistimiou, 57001, Thermi Thessaloniki, Greece
Received 25 June 2008 – Revised 16 October 2008 – Accepted 22 October 2008 - Published online 3 February 2009
Abstract - Pollen is very important for the bees' nutrition and it is necessary for their survival and reproduction. In this work we studied the possibility of recording the pollen flora of an area by examining the pollen content of the rectum of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) and comparing the results to these coming from pollen traps. We concluded that the pollen analysis of the rectum of honeybees could be used as a fast screening method of the bee flora of an area. However, for quantitative results, additional methods such as pollen pellet analysis should be applied.
Key words: Apis mellifera / nurse bees / pollen consumption / melissopalynology
© INRA, DIB-AGIB, EDP Sciences 2009