Floral biology, pollen dispersal, and foraging behaviour of honeybees in Okra (Abelmoschus esculentum)
Author(s)
A. S. Tanda
Abstract
The most important insect pollinators of okra (Abelmosclzus esculentum cv. Pusa Sawani) at Ludhiana, Punjab, India were the honeybees Apis mellifera and A. cerana indica. Of a sample of 100 A. mellifera foragers in a field of okra, 88 collected nectar, eight pollen and four both nectar and pollen. Corresponding numbers for A. c. indica were 87, ten and three. In a 6-hour period, pollen was dispersed by insects over an area of 8-m radius. The floral biology of okra and foraging behaviour on okra of the two honeybee species are described.
Keywords
Forage behaviour, foraging, pollination, commerical crops, india
