Melissopalynology and foraging activity of the stingless bees, heterotrigona itama (hymenoptera: apidae) at Taman Tropika Kenyir, Terengganu

Abstract

A study on melissopalynology and foraging activity of stingless bees, Heterotrigona itama (Hymenoptera: Apidae) was conducted at Taman Tropika Kenyir (TTK), Terengganu from April until September 2013. The main aim of this study was to use melissopalynology or pollen analysis in order to determine the foraging preference and active period of foraging activity of H. itama in tropical island of TTK. Overall, there were 59 plant species belonging to 30 families of plants that were visited by H. itama throughout direct observation and melissopalynological analysis in TTK. However, only 27 plant species from 24 families were succesfully identified which include of native species, ruderal species as well as introduced and cultivated species that consist of ornamental trees, underutilised fruits, agriculture fruits and others. The overall result shows that family Flacourtiaceae (Flacourtia jangomas) was the most dominant pollen collected by H. itama, followed by Fagacea (Lithocarpus sp.) and Sapotaceae (Mimusops elengi). Other types of pollen grains were considered as accessory, isolated or occasional pollen grains.