Pollen resource partitioning by Apis dorsata, A. cerana, A. andreniformis and A. florea in Thailand
Author(s)
Benjamin Oldroyd; Thomas Rinderer; Siriwat Wongsiri
Abstract
The sympatric congeners Apis dorsata, A. cerana, A. andreniformis and A. florae were observed foraging for pollen on the nocturnalIy- dehiscent king palm (Archontophoenix alexandrea). The larger A. dorsata and A. cerana foraged earliest but in low numbers, presumably exploiting the resource at its most productive time. The smaller A. andreniformis and A. florea followed in large numbers. Although there was minimal separation of A. andreniformis and A. florea foragers in either space or time, no aggressive interactions between the species were observed.
