Department of Entomology, Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishva Vidyalaya, Palampur-176 062, H.P. (India).
Studies on the foraging behaviour of Apis mellifera L. and Apis cerana indica F. were conducted during the rabi season (1990–91). The highest number of foragers of both the species entering hive was recorded at 1200 h of the day. In both the species, highest percentage of incoming bees was found to carry nectar followed by nectar + pollen, water and pollen collection. Pollen coileciion in both the species was highest at 0900 h and was lowest at 1500 h. There was not much difference in the percentage of nectar gatherers at 1200 and 1500 h in both the species. The two species showed more nectar + pollen collection at 1200 and 1500 h than 0900 h. The water collection in both the species was highest at 0900 h. The proportion of pollen, nectar and nectar + pollen carrying bees varied on different days. The proportion of pollen foragers showed more variations than nectar and nectar + pollen foragers.
