Differences in pollen sources of Apis cerana and Apis mellifera at a primary beech forest in central Japan

Plant taxa of pollen sources for Apis cerana japonica and A. mellifera ligu stica at a primary beech forest in Ashiu (Kyoto, Japan) were compared. Most pollen sources were shared between the two honey bee species. Seasonal var iation in the pollen utilization of the two bee species were similar from A pril to October. Pollen source overlap in interspecific pairs of colonies w as smaller than that in intraspecific pairs at the start and end of the sea son. Pollen collection from seven plant taxa differed between A. cerana and A. mellifera; A. cerana preferred tall trees, while A. mellifera favoured short herbs. Dioecious and andromonoecious flowers with green petals were p referred by A. cerana. These findings suggest differences in both resource location and visual attractiveness of pollen sources between the two honey bee species, which were emphasized when air temperature was low.