Pentas lanceolata and Hibiscus rosa sinensis as bee flora for urban conservation of Apis dorsata (Fab.) (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Flower visitation of Apis dorsata (Fab.) were observed regularly for three years on 17 plants in an urban garden in Bangalore. Data indicated that visitsof A. dorsata were only on two plants namely Hibiscus rosa sinensis and Pentas lanceolate. The meanvisits (pooled) recorded on H. rosa sinensis and P. lanceolate was 2.13/sqm/2 minutes and 2.48 sqm/2 minutes at 10 am. At 1pm mean visits (pooled) recorded was H. rosa sinensis 0.41/sqm/2 minutes and P. lanceolate 0.53/sqm/2 minutes and at 4 pm H. rosa sinensis 0.19/sqm/2 minutes and P. lanceolate 0.23/sqm/2 minutes. Urban gardens planted with Pentas and Hibiscus therefore would augment thegiant bee. A. dorsata. This is significant as A. dorsata is dwindling due to urbanization and loss of plants.