Identification of Food Sources of Apis cerana Fabricius, 1793 Based on Pollen Analysis

Moh Syahrial Farawansyah, Lestari MP Alibasyah, Manap Trianto, Masrianih Masrianih, Yulia Windarsih, Amalia Buntu

Abstract


Apis cerana commonly known as the “Asian honey bee,” has been utilized for thousands of years across Asia, its native region, for honey production and pollination services. This species is often described as the closest “twin” of its European/African sister species, A. mellifera. This study aimed to identify plant species serving as pollen food sources for the honey bee A. cerana based on pollen morphological analysis. The research was conducted using a descriptive exploratory approach in Jononunu Village, Parigi Tengah District, Parigi Moutong Regency, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Pollen samples were collected from worker bees during foraging activities and subsequently analyzed through acetolysis and microscopic examination in the laboratory. Pollen identification was based on morphological characteristics, including exine ornamentation, aperture type, and pollen size.The results showed that A. cerana utilized pollen sources from 14 plant species belonging to 12 families, indicating a high diversity of forage resources. The identified pollen morphological characteristics comprised four types of exine ornamentation, six aperture types, and pollen sizes ranging from very small to large, with small- to medium-sized pollen being dominant. Tricolporate aperture types and psilate ornamentation were the most frequently observed characteristics. Based on plant growth form, pollen sources were predominantly derived from tree species, followed by herbs, while shrubs and bushes contributed less. These findings provide important baseline information for melissopalynological studies and may serve as a reference for the management and conservation of A. cerana and its forage plants.

Keywords


Apis cerana Fabricius, 1793; acetolysis; honey bee; food sources; pollen

Full Text:

PDF

References


Cannizaro, C., Keller, A., Wilson, R., Elliot, B., Newis, R., Ovah, R., Inae, K., Kerlin, D, H., Bar, I., Kämper, W., Shapcott, A., & Wallace, H, M. (2022). Forest landscapes increase diversity of honeybee diets in the tropics. Forest Ecology and Management, 504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2021.119869.

Erdtman, G. (1952). Morphology and Taxonomy Angiospermae: An Introduction to Palynology. The Botanica Company Weather, Massachusetts, USA. https://biostor.org/reference/162108

Erdtman, G. (1986). Pollen morphology and plant taxonomy. Stockholm, Sweden: Hafner Publishing Company. https://biostor.org/reference/162108

Hesse, M, H Halbritter, R Zetter, M Weber, R Buchner, A Frosch-Radivo, and S Ulrich. (2009). Polen Terminoloy: An Illustrated Handbook. Springer. Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71365-6

Indriyani, R., Hendrayana, Y., Adhya, I (2025). Analisis Potensi Tumbuhan Sumber Pakan Lebah Madu Klanceng (Heterotrigona itama) Di Kabupaten Majalengka. Journal of Forestry and Environment, 8(1), 55-64. https://doi.org/10.25134/cgweqz26

Jayuli, M., Junus, M., & Nursita, W. (2018). Pengaruh Ketingian Terhadap Diameter Polen Lebah Madu (Apis Cerana) Di Kabupaten Malang. Ternak Tropika Journal of Tropical Animal Production, 19 (1), 9–21. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.jtapro.2018.019.01.2

Koetz, A, H. (2013). Ecology, Behaviour and Control of Apis cerana with a Focus on Relevance to the Australian Incursion. Journal Insect. 4, 558-592. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects4040558

Konzmann, S., Koethe, S., Lunau, K. (2019). Pollen grain morphology is not exclusively responsible for pollen collectability in bumble bees. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 4705. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-41262-6

Kusmoro, J., Febrian, R, R., Shanida, S., Husodo, Teguh., Mutaqin, A, Z., Hermawan, W. (2024). Identifikasi Polen sebagai Indikator Keanekaragaman Tumbuhan Sumber Pakan Lebah Madu (Apis cerana F.) di Kawasan Konservasi Hutan Kota di Kabupaten Bandung, Jawa Barat. Jurnal Agrikultura, 35(1), 103-111. https://doi.org/10.24198/agrikultura.v35i1.42694

Liang, R., Liang, C., Zhang, Y., Huang, J., & Ding, G. (2025). Influence of Different Diets on Growth and Development of Eastern Honey Bee (Apis cerana). Insects, 16(4), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16040383

Louveaux, J. (1990). Les relations abeilles-pollens. Bulletin de La Societe Botanique de France. Actualites Botaniques, 137(2), 121–131. https://doi.org/10.1080/01811789.1990.10827009

Masrianih., Dhafir, F., & Trianto, M. (2022). Pollen collected by stingless bees Tetragonula laeviceps (Smith, 1857) (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) from Central Sulawesi. Jurnal Biologi Tropis, 22(3), 851–856. https://doi.org/10.29303/jbt.v22i3.3885

Nuraini, N., & Purwanto, H. (2021). Morphology, morphometrics, and molecular characteristics of Apis cerana and Apis nigrocincta from Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Jurnal Biologi Tropis, 21 (2), 368–382. http://dx.doi.org/10.29303/jbt.v21i2.2614

Parreño, M, A., Werle, S., Buydens, L., Leroy, C., Roberts, S., Koirala, S., Filipiak, M., Kuhlmann, M., Burnet, J., Henry, M., Alaux, C., Requier, F., Piot, M., Meeus, I., Klein, A, M., Keller, A., Leonhardt, S, D. (2024). Landscape heterogeneity correlates with bee and pollen diversity while size and specialization degree explain species-specific responses of wild bees to the environment, Science of The Total Environment, 954. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176595.

Pratama, P, N, E., Watiniasih, N, L., & Ginantra, I, K. (2018). Perbedaan Ketinggian Tempat Terhadap Jenis Polen Yang Dikoleksi Oleh Lebah Trigona. Jurnal Biologi Udayana, 22(1), 42–48. https://doi.org/10.24843/JBIOUNUD.2018.v22.i01.p06

Priambudi, A, S., Raffiudin, R., Djuita, N, R. (2021). Identifikasi Tumbuhan Sumber Polen pada Madu Lebah Heterotrigona itama dan Tetragonula laeviceps di Belitung. Jurnal Sumberdaya HAYATI, 7(1), 25-35. https://doi.org/10.29244/jsdh.7.1.25-35

Purba, D, M, S., Jumilawaty, E., Elimasni. (2024). Jenis-Jenis Tumbuhan Sebagai Sumber Polen untuk Heterotrigona itama (Cockerell, 1918) di Desa Bongguron, Kabupaten Simalungun. Berita Biologi, 23(3), 407–420. https://doi.org/10.55981/berita_biologi.2024.5543

Romaschenko, K., Ertu?rul, K., Susanna, A., Garcia-Jacas, N., Uysal, T. & Arslan, E. (2004), New chromosome counts in the Centaurea Jacea group (Asteraceae, Cardueae) and some related taxa. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 145(3), 345-352. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.2004.00292.x

Rojas-Sandoval, J. (2022). Apis cerana (Asian honeybee). CABI Compendium Datasheet, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1079/cabicompendium.6352

Sannier, J., Baker, W, J., Anstett, M, C., Nadot, S. (2009). A comparative analysis of pollinator type and pollen ornamentation in the Araceae and the Arecaceae, two unrelated families of the monocots. BMC Research Note, 2(145). https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-2-145

Sarah, S., Suedy, S, W, A., Hastuti, E, D. (2017). Ciri Morfologi Polen Dan Spora Tumbuhan Dari Sedimen Rawa Jombor Klaten. Bioma, 19(1), 5-12. https://doi.org/10.14710/bioma.19.1.5-12

Sukapti, W, S., & Dewi, K, T. (2023). Perubahan Lingkungan Holosen Akhir Berdasarkan Rekaman Polen dari Delta Berau-Kalimantan Timur. Jurnal Geologi dan Sumberdaya Mineral, 24(1), 23-29. https://doi.org/10.33332/jgsm.geologi.v24i1.713

Syayidah, N. (2024). Efektivitas Penyerbukan Lebah Madu Apis cerana Fabr. di Taman Hutan Raya Ir. H. Djuanda, Jawa Barat. Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Development, 6 (6), 3047–3056. https://doi.org/10.38035/rrj.v6i6.1595

Triyadi, R., Triastinurmiatiningsih., Moerfiah. (2023). Keanekaragaman polen sebagai sumber pakan lebah Trigona sp. di Desa Sukawening Kecamatan Dramaga Kabupaten Bogor. Jurnal Biologi Udayana, 27(1), 129-140. https://doi.org/10.24843/jbiounud.2023.v27.i01.p13

Wappler, T., Labandeira, C, C., Engel, M, S., Zetter, R., Grimsson, F. (2015). Specialized and generalized pollen-collection strategies in an ancient bee lineage. Europe PMC Founders Author Manuscript, 25(23), 3092-3098. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2015.09.021

Yanto, S.H., Defri Y, dan Evi S.B. 2016. Potensi Pakan Trigona spp. di Hutan Larangan Adat Desa Rumbio Kabupaten Kampar. JOM Faperta, 3(2),1-7. https://media.neliti.com/media/publications/199018-potensi-pakantrigona-spp-di-hutanlaranga.pdf




DOI: https://doi.org/10.14421/biomedich.2026.151.723-730

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Bookmark and Share


Copyright (c) 2026 Moh Syahrial Farawansyah, Lestari MP Alibasyah, Manap Trianto, Masrianih Masrianih, Yulia Windarsih, Amalia Buntu



Biology, Medicine, & Natural Product Chemistry
ISSN 2089-6514 (paper) - ISSN 2540-9328 (online)
Published by Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University & Society for Indonesian Biodiversity.

CC BY NC
This work is licensed under a CC BY-NC