Beekeeping is the practice of overseeing honey bee colonies to derive various advantages. In India, the Indian honey bee (Apis cerana indica) and Italian honey bee (Apis mellifera) are the main species under management. Bee-collected pollen is an important product which is harvested using a pollen trap. Bee pollen is rich in protein and provide essential nutrients for honey bees. This rich food is being effectively used as human nutrition. This study investigated the effect of pollen traps on pollen collection potential of Indian honey bee Apis cerana indica in a coconut orchard in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu during Jan to May 2023 for a period of five months. The results showed that mean daily pollen collection in the pollen traps was 23.26 g/ hive when traps were placed once in seven days in a week (for a period of 2 h between 7 and 9 am). The daily pollen collection was 6.05, 12.53 and 19.11 g/ hive when traps were placed on all days of a week, alternate days and, once in 3 days. The mean weekly pollen collection was 44.58 g/ hive when traps were placed once in 3 days of a week. The mean weekly pollen collection was 42.33, 43.86 and 23.23 g/ hive when traps were placed on all days of a week, alternate days and once in seven days. It was concluded that placing pollen traps for a period of 2 h in a day between 7 and 9 am for 3 days in a week can be recommended in coconut ecosystem to get maximum pollen yield and without adversely affecting the honey bees. Pollen collection increased significantly after the acclimatization of honey bees to traps with highest collection in March and April. Understanding the pollen collection potential of Indian honey bees has implications for beekeeping, pollination studies, and agriculture. Further research is needed on environmental factors, seasonal variations, and long-term trap effects. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into Indian honey bee pollen collection potential and the possibility of collecting pollen in coconut ecosystem that can provide additional income to beekeepers.

Apis cerana indica, Beekeeping, Pollen trap, Pollen collection, Honey bee colonies, Nutrients, Agriculture, Pollination, Climatic conditions

In conclusion, the study investigated the pollen collection potential of Indian honey bee colonies (A. cerana indica) through the installation of pollen traps over a five-month period in a coconut orchard. The results demonstrated that the highest pollen yield occurred in March with January exhibiting the lowest pollen count. This pattern suggests a correlation between pollen collection and the flowering seasons. Notably, a gradual increase in pollen collection was observed in the weeks following the installation of pollen traps, possibly due to the honey bees' acclimation to the new trap. It was concluded that placing pollen traps for a period of 2 h in a day between 7 and 9 am for 3 days in a week can be recommended in coconut ecosystem to get maximum pollen yield of 44.58 g / hive/ week and without adversely affecting the honey bees. The findings align with previous research on other bee species, such as Italian honey bees (A. mellifera), which have shown similar trends in pollen collection related to seasonal changes. These insights contribute to our understanding of pollen trap efficiency and its impact on honey bee colonies, shedding light on the potential benefits and challenges of implementing such techniques for studying and supporting bee health and pollination dynamics.

Sibun Kumar Rout, M. R. Srinivasan, V. R. Saminathan, A. Suganthi and P. Geetha (2023). Harvesting the Gold Dust: Unravelling the Pollen Production Potential of Indian Bees Apis cerana indica (Fabricius) and Optimizing Pollen Traps in Coconut Ecosystems. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(8): 520-526.