Advertising the significance of diverse plant taxa to Apis mellifera foragers during the dearth period in North Haryana

Intensive surveys conducted in 0-3 km radius of the experimental apiary during the dearth periods (June-October) in 2017 and 2018 unraveled 71 plant species belonging to 31 families as crucial flora for Apis mellifera L. foragers at Kaul, Kaithal, Haryana. Bee flora comprised of 23 weeds (32.4%), 16 ornamentals (22.5%), 12 plantation crops/trees (16.9%), 7 vegetable crops (9.9%), 5 fruit crops (7.1%), 3 forage crops (4.2%), 2 each oilseed and cereal crops (2.8% each) and 1 leguminous pulse crop (1.4%). Among the families, Fabaceae consisted of maximum floral resources (10, 14.1%) followed by Asteraceae (7, 9.9%) and Cucurbitaceae (5, 7.0%). Bee floral calendar was also prepared along with the description of reward potential to A. mellifera foragers in terms of pollen and nectar.