STUDY ON POLLEN COLLECTION EFFICIENCY OF EUROPEAN HONEYBEE (Apis mellifera) FROM MUSTARD FLOWER

Abstract

A study was conducted in Sirajgonj district during the mustard growing time of the year 2015-2016. It was found that honey bee foraging efficiency in mustard flower was highest (13 and 25 respectively) in terms of number of bees/m²/min and number of flowers visited/min. Average weight of single pollen loads were observed at the second harvest period (8-13 days) which obtained the highest (7.74mg/peiece) weight and the highest (9.54 g/day/hour) amount of pollen was weighed in the second harvesting period (8-13 days). The highest ranges (7.7 to 11.25 and 7.25 to 8.85 respectively) of pollen loaded bee foragers were available at 11.00 hours to 12.00 hours and 12.00 hours to 13.00 hours. It was also observed that the entry frequency ranged from 19.18 to 22.92 number/minute and the exit frequency ranged from 19.26 to 22.78 number/minute. In the poly hive super the highest (136 g) pollen yield was obtained from site 2 i.e. Ullapara, Sirajgonj and there is no yield in traditional bee hives. Pollen harvest best time is also in 11.00 hour of day time.