TY - JOUR AU - Aryal, L.N. AU - Thapa, R.B. AU - Tiwari, S. AU - Chaudhary, N.K. PY - 2016/06/27 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Foraging Behavior of Native Honeybee (Apis Cerana F.) and European Honeybee (Apis Mellifera L.) on Flowers of Common Buckwheat (Fagopyrum Esculentum M.) in Chitwan, Nepal JF - International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology JA - Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol VL - 4 IS - 2 SE - Research Articles: Biological Sciences DO - 10.3126/ijasbt.v4i2.15131 UR - https://www.nepjol.info/index.php/IJASBT/article/view/15131 SP - 236-239 AB - <p>This paper is the findings of the research conducted on foraging behavior of Native honeybee (<em>Apis cerana </em>F.) and European honeybee (<em>Apis mellifera </em>L.) on flowering buckwheat (<em>Fagopyrum esculentum </em>Moench) inside the cage during November 2012 to 2013 at Meghauli, Chitwan, Nepal.  <em>Apis cerana</em> F. started their foraging activities early in the morning (8.24 ± 0.50 AM) and ceased late in the evening (5.18 ± 0.20 PM) in comparison to <em>Apis mellifera</em> L., which started foraging at 8.29 ± 0.50 AM and ceased at 4.56 ± 0.50 PM. The total duration of foraging per day was more in <em>Apis cerana </em>F<em>. </em>than <em>Apis mellifera </em>L<em>., </em>i.e<em>. </em>8.34 ± 0.90 hours per day in <em>Apis cerana </em>F.<em> </em>and 8.25 ± 0.90 hours per day in <em>Apis mellifera </em>L<em>.</em> That means <em>A. cerana</em> F. was 1.8% more efficient on foraging duration than <em>A. mellifera </em>L. Similarly, the number of <em>Apis cerana</em> F. and <em>Apis mellifera </em>L.<em> </em>entering into the hive in five minutes was the highest (51.69 ± 0.45 in <em>Apis cerana </em>F.,<em> </em>and<em> </em>62.81 ± 0.45 in <em>Apis mellifera </em>L.) at 12 Noon while lowest (11.24 ± 0.11 in <em>Apis cerana </em>F.,<em> </em>and<em> </em>5.89 ± 0.11 in <em>Apis mellifera </em>L.) at 5 PM and no activity was started at 8 AM. Likewise, the number of <em>Apis cerana </em>F. and <em>Apis mellifera</em> L. bees outgoing from the hive in five minutes was the highest (42.67 ± 0.98 in <em>Apis cerana </em>F<em>. </em>and 48.71 ± 0.98 in <em>Apis mellifera</em> L<em>.</em>) at 12 Noon and the lowest (4.31 ± 0.07 in <em>Apis cerana</em> F. and 2.39 ± 0.07 in <em>Apis mellifera </em>L.) at 5 PM. The number of buckwheat flower visited by <em>Apis cerana</em> F. was highest at 10 AM while by <em>Apis mellifera</em> L. it was highest at 12 Noon. But, for both species of honeybees it was lowest at 4 PM. There was more time spent by <em>Apis mellifera</em> L. (2.37 seconds) per flower than <em>Apis cerana </em>F. (1.95 seconds)<em> </em>during floral visit. So, <em>Apis cerana</em> F is efficient in foraging and hence in pollination on buckwheat than <em>Apis mellifera</em> L suggesting buckwheat cultivation along with bee farming especially <em>Apis cerana</em> F.</p><p>Int J Appl Sci Biotechnol, Vol 4(2): 236-239</p> ER -