Seasonal Pollen Collection by Honeybees from Grass/Shrub Highlands in Canterbury, New Zealand

Abstract

SummaryHoneybee (Apis mellifera ligustica Spinola) pollen pellets were trapped weekly from September to May in a high country area inland from Christchurch, New Zealand. The major pollen types identified were Discaria toumatou, Taraxacum-type, Trifolium repens and Coprosma sp. Unmodified high country appears to have adequate spring pollen sources but there may be a dearth of forage sources in the late summer and autumn if Taraxacum-type s and thistles are not present. Indigenous anemophilous sources supplied over 80% of the pollen during the first two months in spring but very little through the rest of the year. Introduced entomophilous species were virtually the sole source over the last five months. Honeybees collected no pollen on six of the 38 observation dates due to adverse weather.