Seasonal foraging activity of stingless bee Tetragonula travancorica Shanas and Faseeh (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini)

Abstract

The foraging hive activity of stingless bee Tetragonula travancorica Shanas and Faseeh was studied from November 2018 to August 2019. The activity varied between the seasons, weather conditions and time hours of study. The outgoing and incoming pollen foragers exhibited two peaks in activity, from 0800-1200 h (first) and during 1500-1600 h (second). The activity of incoming non-pollen foragers displayed only one distinct peak between 1000-1200 h except during the southwest monsoon period. The greatest activity was recorded during the dry season (January-May), followed by the south-west monsoon (June-August) and north-east monsoon (November- December) seasons. Maximum overall activity was recorded during hotter months February, March and April while the lowest was observed in January and December. At any season or time, the number of incoming foragers without pollen was greater than pollen foragers.