Pollen Diversity as Feed Source of Stingless Bee, Tetragonula iridipennis (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the forest of biology faculty, Universitas gadjah Mada, Indonesia

Abstract

Beekeeping is well known in the local community. Information on pollen plants as feeds source of bees by local community is very limited. Higher pollen diversity shows higher quality of product. This study aimed to determine the pollen diversity as feed source collected by Tetragonula iridipennis in the forest of Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). Pollen samples were collected and were anatomically prepared using modified acetolysis method to identify the species. Based on pollen characters, the results showed that pollen diversity as feed source of T. iridipennis identified in 13 families (Arecaceae, Myrtaceae, Cyperaceae, Combertaceae, Moraceae, Chenopodiaceae, Fabaceae, Onagraceae, Malvaceae, Anacardiaceae, Loranthaceae, Proteaceae, Euphorbiaceae) and dominated by species from Arecaceae, Myrtaceae and Cyperacease families.