ISHS Acta Horticulturae 288: VI International Symposium on Pollination
FLORAL VISITS TO SELECT CROPS BY FOUR APIS SPECIES AND TRIGONA SP. IN THAILAND |
| Authors: | A. Boonithee, N. Juntawong, H. Pechhacker, E. Hüttinger |
| Abstract:
In the north of Thailand in two different regions we counted the flower visiting bees on different fruit plants during February 1988. In the region Mae Hae (altitude 1200 – 1300 m) on Pyrus communis L. and Prunus domestica L. and in Lampun (Chiang Mai region) on Longan (Euphoria longan Steud.) floral visitation was observed. A strong and significant correlation between floral visitation and distance to apiary or forest was shown: Flight (and pollination) of A. mellifera could be found only near their apiary. The native bees A. cerana, A. dorsata, A. florea and stingless bees (mostly different species of Trigona) showed in their floral visitation a high correlation to the distance from forest areas or to the devastation of the land. The small beekeepers have not enough money and education to buy and use drugs or modern equipment. Because of the mites Varroa and Tropilaelaps with A. mellifera it is not possible to achieve a sufficient pollination of the agricultural plants of the whole area. Therefore the protection of the native bees, and for A. cerana a careful management and a breeding program is necessary. | |
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