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Science, Marine and Environment

FORAGING ACTIVITY OF Apis mellifera (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE) AT BIG BEE
HONEY APIARY, MARANG

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1*
Muhammad Faqih Luqman bin Fuaad , Wahizatul Afzan Azmi
Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030
1
Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia.
*Corresponding author: wahizatul@umt.edu.my

Understanding the foraging activity and floral sources of the honey bees, Apis mellifera
in relation to the environmental factors (i.e. temperature, humidity and light intensity) is
important for beehive management and honey production of the bees. This information
STUDENT RESEARCH DAY 2021 relationship between A. mellifera foraging activity with environmental factors STUDENT RESEARCH DAY 2021
can improve understanding to beekeepers on the foraging activeness and food sources
preference of the honey bees in Malaysia. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the

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(temperature, humidity and light intensity) at Big Bee Honey Apiary, Marang, Terengganu
and also to identify the plant food source from the pollen grains in the A. mellifera hive.
In this study, the peak time for A. mellifera to go forage was observed at 0900 in the
morning and all environmental factors did not significantly influenced the bee activeness.
There were nine different types of pollen grains identified in this study as plant food
source for the honeybees that consists of trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses and perennial
plants. It is hoped that finding from this study provides important information needed by
the beekeeper on the preferred foraging time in relation to environmental factors and the
plant food source for the improvement in better apiary management.

Keyword: Apis mellifera, foraging activity, floral sources, environmental factors, pollen.

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