Indian Journal of Entomology

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Variation in Flowering Behaviour and Honey Bee Visitation on Eucalyptus Clones


Affiliations
1 Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004, Punjab, India
2 Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004, Punjab, India
 

With the adoption of clonal forestry by the farmers on large tracts in north-western India, the reports of negligible flowering in Eucalyptus clonal plantations need to be analysed. This study reports the results from the experimental trial involving 14 clones replicated thrice in randomized block design with plot size of 5 trees. Floral buds appeared from June and continued up to July. Profuse flowering was recorded only on three clones i.e., PE-7, PE-8 and PE-9. On the other hand, no floral buds could be seen on C-72, C-413, PE-12 and PE-14. All the four honey bee species i.e., Apis mellifera L. (Italian honey bee), A. dorsata F. (rock bee), A. cerana indica F. (Indian honey bee) and A. florea (little bee) visited the flowers. The frequency of their visit was maximum (7.3/ 2 min) during the afternoon (1 pm) and the lowest (4.9) in the evening. The maximum honey bee visitation was observed on clone PE-9.

Keywords

Apiculture, Eucalyptus, clonal plantations, agroforestry, diurnal variation, flowering span, Apis mellifera, A. dorsata, A.cerana indica, A. florea, flower visitors, frequency, duration
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  • Variation in Flowering Behaviour and Honey Bee Visitation on Eucalyptus Clones

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Authors

Akashdeep Singh
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004, Punjab, India
G. P. S. Dhillon
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004, Punjab, India
K. S. Sangha
Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004, Punjab, India
Jaspal Singh
Department of Entomology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004, Punjab, India

Abstract


With the adoption of clonal forestry by the farmers on large tracts in north-western India, the reports of negligible flowering in Eucalyptus clonal plantations need to be analysed. This study reports the results from the experimental trial involving 14 clones replicated thrice in randomized block design with plot size of 5 trees. Floral buds appeared from June and continued up to July. Profuse flowering was recorded only on three clones i.e., PE-7, PE-8 and PE-9. On the other hand, no floral buds could be seen on C-72, C-413, PE-12 and PE-14. All the four honey bee species i.e., Apis mellifera L. (Italian honey bee), A. dorsata F. (rock bee), A. cerana indica F. (Indian honey bee) and A. florea (little bee) visited the flowers. The frequency of their visit was maximum (7.3/ 2 min) during the afternoon (1 pm) and the lowest (4.9) in the evening. The maximum honey bee visitation was observed on clone PE-9.

Keywords


Apiculture, Eucalyptus, clonal plantations, agroforestry, diurnal variation, flowering span, Apis mellifera, A. dorsata, A.cerana indica, A. florea, flower visitors, frequency, duration

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.55446/IJE.2021.6