Relative Abundance and Foraging Behaviour of Apis spp. on Sesamum (Sesamum indicum) Flowers

Studies conducted on relative abundance and foraging behaviour of Apis spp. revealed that sesamum flowers were visited by 12 insect visitors, out of which Apis spp. were the predominant ones. Among different bee species, A. dorsata was the most abundant (7.53 bees/m²/5 min.). Maximum bee activity (11.33 bees/m²/5 min.) was observed during 1000 to 1100 hrs. Further, A. florea spent significantly higher time than A. dorsata and A. mellifera, which were at par with each other. A. dorsata visited maximum number of flowers/minute.