Bee flora

Apiculture

1. BEE FLORA BEE FLORA

2. Introduction: Honeybees collect nectar and pollen from a variety of plants which are known as bee flora.

3. Nectar is source of honey , which include both floral and extra floral nectaries of flower. Pollen is source of protein.

4. The period when a good number of plants have nectar is called a honey flow period. The season when there is no honey flow is called a dearth period.

5. The honey bees usually forage about 100 m distance from the hive but they can go upto 1.5 km. The bees are most active in foraging within a temperature range of 25 c to 27 c .

6. The workers make about 6000 trips a day to collect 500 to 1000 mg of pollen. A worker makes about 19000 trips a day for collection of nectar . In addition to pollen and nectar ,the bees also collect propolis .

7. Importance of bee flora: E ssential to understand various types of bee flora and their blooming phenology in a given area to conserve bee colonies . Pollination is an ecosystem service provided by the bees that is almost always taken for granted. 

8. Choosing flowering plants for a bee-friendly garden: Native flowers: Honeybees may collect nectar from a wide variety of flowers, but many wild bees are partial to native flowers. Colorful flowers: Bees are more attracted to yellows and white and the blue - purple range.

9. Contd … Fragrant flowers: Flowers carry fragrance for the very purpose of attracting pollinators. Long bloomers: Plants with a long flowering season assure the bees of a continuous food supply.

10. Contd … Early season flower: Early spring flowers are a relief to bees that have been on a meager ration during winter. Mass plantings : Plant large patches of the same plant in an area, or have a mixed planting with a few selected bee favorites.  

11. List of important bee flora: Sr.No . Common name Botanical name Family Flowering period (1-12 months) Source for N - nectar P - pollen 1. Stone and pome fruits Prunus & Pyrus spp. Rosaceae 2-4 N+P 2. Bramble Rubus ellipticus Rosaceae 2-3 N+P 3. Barberry Berberis lycium Berberidaceae 3-4 N+P 4. Honey suckle Lonicera angustifolia Caprifoliaceae 3-4 N+P 5. Yellow clover Medicago denticulata Leguminosae 3-4 N+P

12. Contd … 6. White clover Trifolium repens Leguminosae 3-4 N+P 7. Egyptian clover Trifolium alexandrinum Leguminosae 4-5 N+P 8. Hirad Terminalia chebula Combretaceae 4-6 N 9. Jamun Syzygium cumini Myrtaceae 4-5 N+P 10. Eucalyptus Eucalyptus sp. Myrtaceae 3-5 N+P

13. Contd …. 11. Bottle brush Callistemon lanceolatus Myrtaceae 4 N+P 12. False acacia Robinia pseudoacacia Leguminosae 4 N+P 13. Gulmohar Jacaranda mimosaefolia Bignoniaceae 4-5 N 14. Bird’s foot treefoil Lotus corniculatus Leguminosae 4-5 N 15. Daru Punica granatum Punicaceae 4-5 N+P

14. Contd … 16. Toon Toona ciliata Meliaceae 4-5 N+P 17. Sunflower Helianthus annuus Compositae 4-7 N+P 18. Shisham Dalbergia sissoo Leguminosae 4 N+P 19. Wild rose Rosa moschata Rosaceae 4-6 N+P 20. Ber Zizyphus jujuba Rhamanaceae 5-7 N

15. Most bees collect just pollen or just nectar on any trip, but a few carry both at the same time. The pollen is stuffed into hairy receptacles on their hind legs called corbiculae .

16. Honey bees usually forage on only one kind of flower on any single trip. A single bee can carry about 35% of its body weight of pollen.

17. Fruit trees: Most fruit trees will provide forage to bees Apple, Plum and Cherry trees are some of the most bee-attracting trees. Fruit trees provide both nectar and pollen to foraging bees in the spring and early summer.

18. Plants which are visited by bees only for nectar: Tamarind( Tamarindus indicus ) Neem ( Azadirachta indica ) Soapnut tree( Sapindus spp., ) Eucalyptus spp.. Pungam ( Pongamia pinnata ) Moringa tinctoria Prosopis spicigera

19. Plants which supply pollen to the bees: Sorghum Maize Roses Finger millet Bajra Castor Tobacco

20. Antigonon and Cotton supply both nectar and pollen.

21. Singapore cherry( Muntingia calabura )

22. Some beautiful flowers that attract bees: Blackeyed Susan ( Rudbeckia hirta ): Flowering period is summer blooming flowers.

23. Saffron flower: Saffron are found in Simla , kulu , Manali regions. Bloom period: October and November.

24. Jamun flower: Jamun fruit flowers ( Naaval pazham ) blossoms in the Himachal region during the month of may and june .

25. Sheesham : Dalbergia sissoo known commonly as North Indian Rosewood is an evergreen rosewood tree also known as Sheesham . The flowering seasons is march to may.

26. Mango: In India flowering season start from december and goes on till march.

27. Ber : Jujube flower ( Elantha pazham )blossom in the Himalayan and Rajasthan region during the months of september .

28. Aster: It bloom around the time when other flowers are fading. It gives the honeybee a much needed pollination option. They bloom in late summer and stay in bloom .

29. Lemon balm: The honeybees well fed from the plants nectar rich flower.

30. Purple coneflower: It is a daisy like flower is a honeybee magnet and provides both pollen and nectar to foraging bees.

31. Snapdragon: It release a stronger scent than most other flower and this attracts lots and lots of bees.

32. Golden rod( Solidago spp ): Bloom period: August to November.

33. Butterfly Bush ( Buddleja davidii ) Perennials as a bush or a small tree, but pruning is necessary to promote profuse flowering.

34. Sunflowers ( Helianthus spp. ) Sunflowers with their large central discs provide ample opportunity for bees to forage for nectar and pollen.

35. Salvia ( Salvia spp. ) It provide protein-rich pollen for bees in early spring.

36. Blanket flower (Gaillardia x grandiflora ) tough with a profusion of daisy-like flowers can provide sustenance for bees in gardens many other flowers. Bloom period: May to October.

37. Reference Elements of Economic Entomology – 8th edition - B.Vasantharaj David and V.V. Ramamurthy. Compressive guide to bees and bee keeping 2013-D.P.Abrol Net source.

38. Thank you