Diversity of pollen collected by kelulut bee (Heterotrigona itama) from South Kalimantan. Issue 1 (November 2021) - Hakim, S S
Abstract: Pollen is an essential source of proteins and vitamins for the bee diet. In addition, the diversity of pollen found in honey provides information about plant species that illustrate the bees foraging activity. This study aims to identify pollen in kelulut ( Heterotrigona itama ) beehives and identify its botanical origins. This study was conducted in two bee farming locations which are Layuh Village, Hulu Sungai Tengah Regency, and Gambah Luar Village, Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency, South Kalimantan Province. Pollen was collected from the beehives and stored in an airtight container. Collected pollen was identified using the acetolysis method. According to this study, there were 14 pollen types found, where only 9 of them can be identified. In the first locations (Layuh Village), most pollen came from Asteraceae (38.8%) and Arecaceae (31.2%) families. While at the Gambah Luar village, pollen was dominated by those who originated from the Rubiaceae family (31.2%). This result also revealed that Heterotrogona itama is a multi-floral bee and has various diets consisting of fruit, ornamental, and herbaceous plants. The information generated from this study can be used as plant enrichment recommendations in the honey bee farming areas.