Seasonal incidence of asian bee-eater, Merops orientalis lan. on Apis mellifera linn. under Terai Agro-ecological region of West Bengal

The present study was conducted to evaluate the seasonal incidence ofAsian green bee-eater, Merops orientalis on Western honey bee, Apis mellifera under Terai agro-ecological region of West Bengal, India. Different trees, crops, shrubs, electric power lines, instructional boards, fencing, bamboo pegs, rice stubbles, as well as ground were the perching sites used by the birds. Their incidence on honey bees was maximum during December to February and completely absent near the apiary from last week of March to the first week of July. They were quite successful as a predator with a success ratio of 76.27%. Highest activity of the birds was recorded at 13:00-14:00 when the foraging activity of the honey bees was also high enough. The results obtained from the present study could be helpful to adopt appropriate vertebrate pest management strategies against M. orientalis that will allow the beekeepers to look after that particular time period when these birds are more abundant.