Honeybees response to landing guide located on flowers of Smithia hirsuta Dalzell, an endemic herb of India is studied. The bees perceive the colour contrast as landing guide which serve as a map to the concealed floral reward, the nectar. Hence they associate these with nectar and forage precision with maximum energy conservation. Detailed taxonomy of S. hirsuta Dalzell is also provided.
Apis indica, Endemic, Pollinator, Smithia blanda, S. hirsuta, Western Ghats
1. Chittka, L., Shmida, A., Troje, N. and Menzel, R. (1994). Ultraviolet as a component of flower reflections, and the colour perception of Hymenoptera. Vision Research. 34 (11): 1489-1508 https://doi.org/10.1016/0042-6989(94)90151-1
2. Crepet, W.L. (1984). Advanced (constant) insect pollination mechanisms: pattern of evolution and implications vis-a-vis angiosperm diversity. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 71 (2): 607-630 https://doi.org/10.2307/2399041
3. Herrera, C.M. (1995). Floral biology, microclimate, and pollination by ectothermic bees in an early-blooming herb. Ecology 76 (1) : 218-228 https://doi.org/10.2307/1940644
4. Sanjappa, M. (1992). Legumes of India. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun
5. Singh, R. K. (2015). Lectotypifications of some Smithia (Fabaceae) occurring in India. Phytotaxa. 255 (1): 1-20 https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.255.1.1
6. Stebbins, G.L. (1974). Flowering Plants: Evolution Above the Species Level. Harvard University Press, Cambridge https://doi.org/10.4159/harvard.9780674864856
7. The Plant List (2013). The Plant List.Version 1.1. Available from: http://www.theplantlist.org/ (accessed 24 July, 2016)
Garg, A. and Singh, R.K., 2017. Honeybee Response to Landing Guides in Flowers of Smithia hirsuta Dalzell, An Endemic Herb of India. Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products, 24(2), pp.93-96. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps2000-2017-6U75Q2
Manuscript Published on 22 June 2017
Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: