Foraging Behaviour of Apis mellifera Responses to the Position of Apple Flowers (Malus domestica)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54172/fe4jrt92Keywords:
Apis mellifera, The Upper and Down Region, Foraging Behavior, Apple FlowerAbstract
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of flower height on the number of worker bees, Apis mellifera, and its effect on the foraging behavior during its visit to the flowers of Malus domestica. The flowering region of the tree was divided into two equal heights, and the number of honey bee visitors and foraging behavior during the first hours of the day were monitored and calculated. The two regions showed apparent significant differences in the average number of nectar collections at 11:00 am, the highest number of visitors was recorded in the upper region 96.0 ± 6.0 workers/m2, and the lower region of nectar with an average of 84.0±3.3 workers/m2, and the lowest rates were recorded in the upper region of nectar, with an average of 73.3 ±63.3 workers/m2 at 12 noon. At 9:00 am, the lower region of nectar was recorded with an average of 36.6 ± 4.6 workers/m2. The two regions had the highest average number of pollen collectors. At 9 am, the upper region recorded 25.3 ± 0.4 workers /m2, and the lower region recorded 13.3±0.77 workers/m2. The lowest rates were recorded in the upper region7.00±0.9 workers/m2 at 11:00 am. At noon, the average area recorded 3.6±0.1 workers /m2.The result revealed no significant differences in the handling time in the two regions during the nectar collection. However, differences were recorded in the traveling time in the lower region only for nectar collectors; we conclude that the tree's height affected the behavior of the honey bee workers during the search for food and pollen collection.
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