Documentation of Honeybees Flora and Blooming Period in Major Horticultural and Agricultural Crops Growing in Dryland Regions of Northern Karnataka, India

Abstract

The goal of the present study was to determine the variety of nectariferous and polleniferous bee flora in the Koppal district of Northern Karnataka in order to enhance the bees' blooming season. When the blooming plants were visited, the honeybees' presence and foraging activity were documented. In a ten-minute interval when at least three honeybees visited the flowers, the plants were identified as bee foraging species. The various plant groupings that worker bees visit, including as fruit crops, vegetable cops, field crops, plantations, flower and ornamental plants, etc., are included in the identified bee flora. The detected flora was further divided into plants that yielded nectar, pollen, and both. A total of sixty-four crops were identified as forage crops.  Of those, the Koppal district had plants that yielded nectar (14), pollen (13), and both (36), according to documentation. The major dearth times were discovered to be mid-April to mid-June, whereas the honey flow seasons were determined to be mid-December to mid-February and mid-July to mid-September. Based on the flora's availability, utility status, and duration of flowering, a floral calendar was established for the study area. The listed species (Syzygium, Cassia, Citrus, Pongamia, Azadirachta, Brassica, Areca, Cocos, Guizotia, Hilianthus, Albezia, Lagerstroemia, Polinathus, Sapindus, Tecoma) and others are some of the common and significant bee food plants.