Authors : Devendra M. Mate
Page Nos : 160-173
Description :
Twenty two honey samples of Apis dorsata were collected from eight villages of Umrer
Tahsil of Nagpur district., Maharashtra State during the period October 2005 to April 2007. Of
the 22honey samples, 11 represented winter honeys collected during October 2005 to February
2007 while the rest summer honeys from March 2005 to April 2007. All winter honey samples
were found to be unifloral for Capsicum annuum. The percentage of Capsicum Pollen ranged
from 64.48% to 74.60%. The other frequent to less frequent pollen types encountered in these
honeys are viz., Helianthus annuus, Sphaeranthus indicus, Tridax procumbens, Hyptis
suaveolens, Lagascea mollis, Carthamus tinctorius and Sonchus oleraceus. Honeydew elements
were ‘practically none’ in the Capsicum honey. Of the eleven summer honey samples nine were
found to be unifloral and other two multifloral. Syzygium cumini formed the predominant pollen
type in five samples. Its percentage ranged from 49.94% to 61.35%. Mangifera indica (60.73%)
formed the predominant pollen type in the two samples while that of Helianthus annuus
(52.16%) in other two honey samples. In the multifloral honeys, Helianthus annuus and
Syzygium cumini constituted the secondary pollen types. The other frequent to less frequent
pollen types encountered in these honey are viz., Prosopis juliflora, Blumea sp., Capsicum
annuum, Parthenium hysterophorus, Sphaeranthus indicus, Sonchus oleraceus and
Clerodendrum sp. The honeydew elements were ‘practically none’ in these samples.
