Food preferences in immature honey of Apis mellifera in Chaco Serrano (Jujuy, Argentina).

Abstract

Food preferences in immature honey of Apis mellifera in Chaco Serrano (Jujuy, Argentina). This work is part of a study of food resources used by Apis mellifera in the Chaco Serrano District in the Province of Jujuy. We present the results of melissopalynologic analyses performed to immature honey samples taken throughout a production cycle in two apiaries: Finca Doña Hermes (El Pongo) and Apiary Watraymiski (Severino). The samples were processed according to standard methodology. For the El Pongo 57 pollen types were registered, while 59 were identified for Severino. According to the origin of the types found, the elements corresponding to the transition between the Yungas and Chaco and related with human activities are highlighted, being was found as dominant: Mimosa xanthocentra, Parapiptadenia excelsa, Salix humboldtiana, Rapistrum rugosum and Anadenanthera colubrina var. cebil.