Pollination efficiency and foraging activity of stingless bee (Tetragonula “iridipennis” sp. group) in open field coriander cropping

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the efficiency of Tetragonula iridipennis Smith, India’s prevalent stingless bee, as a pollinator during the Rabi season, specifically focusing on coriander, cultivated for seed production. Our findings revealed several key insights during the peak blooming period of coriander. The highest activity of outgoing bees occurred between 1000-1200 hrs, with the peak number of pollen foragers recorded between 1100-1200 hrs, averaging 3.83 bees/5min/hour over six days. Nectar-foraging bees were most active between 1100 and 1400 hrs, while resin-foraging bees were observed at their peak between 1400 and 1500 hrs. Incorporating stingless bees in open-pollinated coriander crops resulted in a substantial yield of 130 kg of seeds per acre per 10 colonies, accompanied by 130 g of honey production within 28 days. Comparatively, this represented a 31 percent increase in seed production when compared to fields without bee colonies. These findings underscore the valuable role of T. iridipennis in enhancing coriander seed production, with potential implications for crop productivity and honey production.