Melissopalynological study of nadia district, west bengal, india

The present paper deals with melissopalynological analysis of honey samples collected from seventeen blocks of Nadia district, West Bengal, India. It showed the dominance of Parthenium sp. pollen in the pollen spectra of honey samples. The weed emerged as prominent pollen type in the spectra of seven ‘unifloral’ honey samples belonging to the blocks of Karimpur-I, Karimpur-II, Nabadwip, Krishnaganj, Hanskhali, Santipur and Ranaghat-I and contributed second highest percentage as individual pollen type in ten ‘multifloral’ honeys belonging to the blocks of Tehatta-I, Tehatta-II, Kaliganj, Nakashipara, Chapra, Krishnagar-I, Krishnagar-II, Ranaghat-II, Chakdah and Haringhata. This result affirms about the preference of bees to the weed as their forage. As most of the crop plants are cross pollinated, the role of the pollinators in crop yield is well documented and bees are considered to be the best performer in relation to the pollination service. In the context of the characteristic behavior of ‘floral fidelity’ of the bees, the findings of the present paper creates concern as presence of the weed Parthenium sp. in the vicinity of the crop field may distract the bees and pose potential hindrance to ensure pollination service to the local crops flowering synchronously.