Unraveling the floral preference: bee pollen identification and characterization of Tetragonula laeviceps

The stingless bee (Tetragonula laeviceps) is capable of yielding
products such as honey, propolis, and bee pollen, which hold promise as
potential sources of nutrition or alternatives in the field of medicine. The
physical and chemical attributes of these products are influenced by
intrinsic factors, including dietary sources and bee species, as well as
extraneous variables such as management techniques, seasonal variations,
and environmental parameters. The Campus of the Biology Faculty UGM
encompasses a rich repository of flowering plant species that present a
viable resource for the sustenance of stingless bees. Consequently, this
research endeavor seeks to delineate and characterize the plant species that
serve as the sustenance of stingless bees by elucidating the pollen types
discovered within their nest. Pollen specimens were directly procured from
the nests and subjected to be analyzed with light microscopy and scanning
electron microscopy (SEM). At least four distinct varieties of pollen have
been identified, originating from divergent plant species, namely those
belonging to the Pinaceae, Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, and Brassicaceae
families. The dietary preferences of stingless bees, as discerned through the
identification of pollen types, exhibit congruence with the plant species in
the vicinity of their nesting sites.