Food plant species from pollen load of honey bee (Apis mellifera) in Nong Khai, Thailand

Abstract

Diversity of food plants for honey bee (Apis mellifera) in Nong Khai Province was studied by comparing morphology of pollen from pollen loads of bees with pollen collected from flowering plant during September ??? October 2014. Pollen morphology and measurement were investigated under light microscope (LM). There were 43 species of plants blooming at that period. Pollen from pollen loads of the honey bees showed 15 food plant species. Among these, 9 species were identified, including 1) Acmella oleracea, 2) Amaranthus viridis, 3) Cassia siamea, 4) Cleome gynandra, 5) Elaeis guineensis, 6) Leucaena leucocephala, 7) Mimosa pigra, 8) M. pucida, and 9) Passiflora??edulis and 6 unknown species.