The objective of this work was to study flora of polliniferous importance for Apis mellifera (L.) in the region of Viçosa-MG, during the period between honey harvests from August to December, 2005. The experiment was carried out in two different apiaries, each one with five beehives. The pellets retained in the pollen collectors in the beehives were analyzed with respect to their botanical origin. The flowering plants surrounding the apiaries were collected and identified. Most plants of polliniferous importance for the bees in the Viçosa region were native, located in gardens and with arboreal habitus. The palynological analysis showed that species such as Anadenanthera colubrina, Arecaceae sp., Baccharis dracunculifolia, B. melastomaefolia, Coffea spp.s are potential polliniferous resources to be used during the period between honey harvests. The results indicate the importance of plants located in open areas for pollen scavenging by A. mellifera, confirming the polliniferous potential of the studied area during the period between honey harvests.
Bee; Protein resource; Bee pollen
