Ana Andrada

Pollen collected by honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) from south of Caldén district (Argentina): botanical origin and protein content

In the south of the Caldén district (Phytogeographical province of Espinal, Argentina) the availability of flowering along with the botanical origin and protein content of pollen harvested by honey bees, was studied. During two apiculture periods (from end August to early January) pollen loads were collected every fortnight using pollen traps. A total of 637.96 g of pollen loads was analysed. From 139 species recorded, only 29 were visited by honey bees. In terms of biomass the contribution of exotic plants was high at the end of the winter (Brassicaceae and Erodium cicutarium); during this period of pollen shortage, honey bees collected spores of Puccinia interveniens. During the spring, the native plants (Condalia microphylla, Chuquiraga erinacea, Discaria americana, Grindelia tehuelches, Larrea divaricata, Prosopis sp., Prosopidastrum globosum and Vicia pampicola) were utilised. Those pollen types of high protein level were collected most intensively.

Rhamnaceae asociadas a mieles fétidas en Argentina

Rhamnaceae allied to fetid honeys in Argentine. Melissopalynological analysis of six honey samples, commercially rejected for its fetid odour, was performed. These honeys were produced from Espinal and Pampeana Phytogeographical Provinces. The main nectar sources that characterized monofloral honeys belong to the following families: Rhamnaceae (Discaria americana, Scutia buxifolia) and Calyceraceae (Acicarpha tribuloides) along with pollen of S. buxifolia as secondary. According with the results of the present study it seems that the odour has its origin in the Rhamnaceae flowers.