Flight activity and pollen resources of Apis nigrocincta and Apis cerana in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia

Authors

  • Rika Raffiudin Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
  • Nunik Sri Ariyanti Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
  • Inayah Aprilianingrum Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
  • Hairul Anwar Agrotechnology Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Tadulako University, Palu 94111, Indonesia
  • Nurul Insani Shullia Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
  • Sri Bening Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
  • Sri Yuliasih Wiyati Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
  • Windra Priawandiputra Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
  • Shahabuddin Saleh Agrotechnology Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Tadulako University, Palu 94111, Indonesia
  • Suardi Agrotechnology Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Tadulako University, Palu 94111, Indonesia
  • Fahri Fahri Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Tadulako University, Palu 94111, Indonesia
  • Ramadhani Eka Putra School of Life Sciences & Technology, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
  • RC Hidayat Soesilohadi Faculty of Biology, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
  • Hery Purnobasuki Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Airlangga University, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia

Keywords:

Acetolysis, Asian honey bees, Bee pollen color, Foraging activity, Wallacea

Abstract

Importance of the work: Apis nigrocincta and A. cerana are important pollinators in Sulawesi; however, their flight activity patterns remain unstudied.
Objectives: To characterize the flight activity of A. nigrocincta and A. cerana bees and its relationship to environmental factors and pollen sources.
Materials & Methods: The flight activity of both honey bee species in lowland Central Sulawesi was observed during 0700–1600 hours and correlations between flight activity and environmental factors were analyzed. Bee pollen was collected from the hind legs of returning bees. Pollen acetolysis and color analysis were conducted to identify pollen sources.
Results: Flight activity was higher and pollen sources were more diverse in A. cerana than for A. nigrocincta. The latter only collected a single type of pollen from Cocos nucifera, which was the dominant pollen source for both species, indicating that environmental management is needed to ensure the sustainability of beekeeping with the native A. nigrocincta in the presence of the introduced A. cerana. A. cerana collected Gramineae pollen, with 12 pollen types from 9 families and 3 unidentified types of pollen. Bee pollen with a single predominant pollen type, such as C. nucifera, varied in color. General linear models revealed that light intensity and temperature negatively affected flight activity, in contrast to the results of other studies.
Main finding: In the apiaries of Central Sulawesi, the more widely distributed and adaptable A. cerana had higher flight activity and collected a greater diversity of pollen compared with the Sulawesi native A. nigrocincta.

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Published

2022-06-22

How to Cite

Raffiudin, Rika, Nunik Sri Ariyanti, Inayah Aprilianingrum, Hairul Anwar, Nurul Insani Shullia, Sri Bening, Sri Yuliasih Wiyati, Windra Priawandiputra, Shahabuddin Saleh, Suardi, Fahri Fahri, Ramadhani Eka Putra, RC Hidayat Soesilohadi, and Hery Purnobasuki. 2022. “Flight Activity and Pollen Resources of Apis Nigrocincta and Apis Cerana in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia”. Agriculture and Natural Resources 56 (3). Bangkok, Thailand:463–472. https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/anres/article/view/254978.

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Section

Research Article