Biometric and forage studies on stingless bees in Nagaland

Field experiments were conducted during October 2008 to September 2009 to explore and identify the stingless bee species and their major flora prevalent at Medziphema and Mima in Nagaland. The species differentiation was based on number of wing hooks, length of metatarsus, length and breadth of fore wing and hind wing, abdomen colours and entrance gate made of cerumen and resins. The highest/longest number of wing hooks, length of metatarsus (mm), length of fore wing (mm), breadth of fore wing (mm), length of hind wing (mm) were recorded from populations from Mima TS2 while, tongue length (mm), width of fourth tergite (mm) and total length of 3^rd sternite (mm) longest were recorded from those of TS1. The foraging activity mostly occurred during February - November in Nagaland.