Nectar productivity of thirteen cultivars of strawberry (Fragariq sp.) was examined in relation to the foraging activity of Apis cerana indica F. and Apis mellifera L. The cultivars were found to vary in the quantity of nectar produced (0·020 to 0·735 ul/flower/day), nectar-sugar concentration (30 to 42%) and amount of sugar (0·006 to 0·2898 mg/flower/day). Consequently energy reward varied from 0·1037 to 4·851 joules/ flower/day. Foraging of both Apis cerana indicq and Apis melliferq

more »

... with energy yields. The results suggest that cultivars with higher caloric rewards had a competitive edge over the others in attracting foraging populations of both species of the bee.