Department of Entomology, Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur-176 062, H.P. (India).
*Present address: Department of Entomology and Apiculture, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture & Forestry, Nauni, Solan-173 230, H.P. (India).
Comparative foraging activity of Apis mellifera L. and Apis cerana indica F. on rapesed bloom revealed that population of A.c indica (1.90±0.35/m2/2 minutes) was much higher than A. mellifea (0.54±0.08/m2/2 minutes). In both the species, maximum activity of bees was observed at 1200 hours. However, there were no significant differences in the number of foragers between 1200 and 1500 h in both the species. The lowest number of bees was recorded at 0900 hours. In both the species, the number of nectar gatherers was highest followed by nectar + pollen, and pollen gatherers. But, in A.c indica more proportion of foragers was collecting nectar than A. mellifra The proportion of pollen gatherers of each bee species was highest at 0900 h and lowest at 1500 hours. In both the species, the highest percentage of nectar gatherers was recorded at 1500 h and lowest at 0900 hours. The nectar + poollen gatherers of both the species were at their peak working spree at 1200 hours.
