Comparison of foraging behaviour of APIS species related to pollinating efficiency on parental lines of Brassica napus L.

A study was conducted on relative pollination efficiency of Apis species on hybrid seed production plots of Brassica napus. Observations on foraging behaviour of four honey bee species (Apis mellifera, A.dorsata, A.cerana and A.florea) visiting parental lines of B. napus, revealed that all foragers (100 per cent) of A.mellifera and A.dorsata were top workers  and came in contact with reproductive parts of flowers of both lines. Percentage of such bees was lower in case of A. cerana and the lowermost as far as A.florea was concerned. On the basis of foraging  behaviour, it was concluded that A.mellifera and A.dorsata were the best pollinators, followed by A.cerana and A.florea .