Foraging activity, pollen load and Pollination studies of the stingless bees (Tetragonula biroi FRIESE (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE: MELIPONINI) UNDER COCONUT PLANTATION
2022.

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ABSTRACT: Stingless bee Tetragonula biroi Friese important pollinators in the Philippines. A study was conducted to document the foraging activity of stingless bees, Tetragonula biroi, determine its pollen load collected, and identify the host plant sources around the vicinity area of meliponary. The effective foraging distance of the bees was determined as well as the percentage fruit set and fruit drop of dwarf coconuts. The foraging activity was documented by counting the number of incoming and outgoing foragers at specific time intervals (from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM) for 5 minutes at each time interval. Counting of the pollens in the pollen load was done using a hemacytometer and percentage composition was computed thereafter. Foraging activity of stinglees bee started at 7:00 AM with a few outgoing and incoming foragers. Outgoing bee foragers had a peak fly-out at around 11:00 AM midday, while incoming forager's peak fly-in period was around 11:00 PM. About 70% of the returning bees loaded of pollens. A range of 27,366 to 37,233 pollen grains are carried by stingless bee forager in a single pollen load, 75% of which were coconut pollens. A total of 13 host plants were visited and preferably foraged by stingless bees, including 4 weed species, 6 ornamental plants, 2 crop plants and 1 tree. Results showed that un-bagged inflorescence have 88.9% and 71% fruit set while bagged treatments recorded only 40.3% and 48.4% regardless of the distance. Percentage fruit drop in the un-bagged inflorescence was 11% while about 29% in the bagged treatment. Five orders of other insect pollinators were observed on coconut inflorescence including Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, Dermaptera, and Lepidoptera orders. Keywords: coconut, T. biroi, pollens, foraging activity, fruit set, fruit drop

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Cabelin, Romnic Amen
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