Stingless bees' pollen and propolis sources and their production in Camarines Sur

Issue Date

10-2011

Abstract

Pollen and propolis sources of Tetragonula sp. and their production using the traditional and Japanese designed hives placed in two meliponaries, the Regional Apiculture Center (RAC) at San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur and San Vicente, Pamplona, Camarines Sur were studied noting the floral bloom, number of brood combs, pollen and honey pots and propolis produced. At Pamplona, the pollen forage consisted of the following: Coconut (Cocos nucifera), the most dominant, papaya (Carica papaya), banana (Musa sp.), Ipil-ipil (Leucaena sp.), balingbing (Auerrhocarambola), lemon (Citrus sp.), avocado (Persia americana), squash (Cucurbita maxima), kamias (Hedychium coronarim), baligang (Syzgium polycephaloides). At Pili (RAC), the pollen forage consists of banana, papaya, coconut, guava (Psidium guajava), pili nut (Canarium ovatum), acacia (Racosperma mangium), santan (Ixora grandiflora), corn (Zea Mays), eggplant (Solanum melongena), bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), kurikuri (Wedelia biflora), lemon, and palm (Palmea sp.). For the sources of propolis (Carica papaya), pili (Canarium ovatum), santol (Sandoricum coetjape), banana (Musa), avocado (Persia americana) jatropa (Jatropa curcas), euphorbia (Euphorbia) and acacia (Acacia sp.) were dominant while at Pamplona, jackfruit, avocado, banana, mango, papaya and lubi-lubi were the pollen sources. Pollen production at San Vicente, Pamplona and San Jose, Pili, Camarines Sur, meliponaries in December using traditional hives showed an increasing number of pollen pots, Pamplona with an increase of 16.55% while 66% at RAC Pili. Higher number of pollen pots was produced at Pamplona using Japanese hive compared with the colonies found at Regional Apiculture Center. In January, a decrease in pollen pots in the Japanese hive in both apiaries and traditional hives at Regional Apiculture Center was noted. The pollen pots produced in traditional hives at Pamplona increased by 64.73% . In February, pollen produced in traditional hives and Japanese hives at Pamplona decreased while at RAC increase in pollen produced was evident in the traditional hive. At RAC, propolis production showed a decreasing trend with highest in December (64%) and lowest in February (9.5%) in Japanese hive. Japanese hive had more propolis produced during the first month. At Pamplona Apiary, propolis production showed an increasing trend with the highest in January (59%) and lowest in December (22%) in Japanese hive. Production was affected by the environmental conditions such as wind and rainfall.

Source or Periodical Title

Philippine Entomologist

ISSN

0048-3753

Volume

25

Issue

2

Page

210-211

Document Type

Article

Frequency

semi-annually

Language

English

En – AGROVOC descriptors

MELIPONA; PROPOLIS; POLLEN; HIVES; PRODICTION; PHILIPPINES

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