European Journal of Zoological Research
Abstract
Author(s): R. Narayanaswamy and S. Basavarajappa
Observation on dwarf bee, Apis florea Fabricius 1973 (Hymenoptera: Apidae) was conducted at Manasagangotri
campus, Mysore by employing an all out search method (AOSM). Total 139 A. florea normal colonies and 60
abandoned combs were recorded with a ratio 1: 0.43. Highest (36) normal colonies were recorded in February
followed by March (31), April (29) and January (23). However, during May and June, the normal colonies were
less in number (10 each). Normal colonies exhibited various shapes namely: asymmetrical (82), round (43) and
oval (14) and showed significant variation (F=6.78; P>0.01) during different months. Further, A. florea population
was not uniform, did varied significantly (F=26.59; P>0.05) during different months. A. florea normal colonies
were located interior and on road side, majorities were protected from direct sunlight and the level of visibility did
indicated a significant variation (F=6.457; P>0.01) during different months. A. florea built small sized comb at
lower elevations that ranged between ground level to up to 50 ft height and did gets attracted for lower elevations
i.e., ground level to up to 15 feet height for nesting with northeast-southwest orientations more compared to other
orientations. Normally, the comb had 12.52 x 16.77cm length x width with six queen cells, 80 to100 drone cells,
hundred of worker cells for brooding and honey storing. There were 24 different plant species which belong to 19
families along with few rough/smooth surfaced human built structures (HBS) selected by A. florea for nesting.
Saraca asoca, Bougainvillea spectabilis, Muntinagia calabura, Terminalia catappa were most preferred nesting
plants.
