Pollen analysis of honeys from Apis mellifera and Tetragonisca fiebrigi (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest, Argentina

Abstract Nectariferous and polliniferous resources are key to the survival of social bees, so identifying origin sources allows implementation management actions aimed at a greater supply nutrients for colonies. Besides, defining floral honeys contributes their characterization commercialization. The objective our work was identify plants that provide nectar bees Apis mellifera Tetragonisca fiebrigi in northern Misiones, through palynological analysis honey samples collected between 2006 2008. Both showed polylectic foraging habit. Richness pollen types per sample ranged 10 34 (mean = 20.5 ± 7.7) A. mellifera, 13 43 24.8 7.1) T. fiebrigi. 15 most abundant were, decreasing order importance, Euphorbiaceae, Euterpe edulis, Holocalyx balansae, Calyptranthes concinna-type, Actinostemon, Salix, Ruprechtia laxiflora, Myrcianthes pungens-type, Thinouia mucronata, Allophylus Ilex, Syagrus romanzoffiana, Gouania latifolia-type, Parapiptadenia rigida, Baccharis-type, whereas important included S. Schinus weinmannifolius-type, H. E. Rhamnaceae, Citrus, Leonurus japonicus, G. Gomphrena perennis-type, Pouteria gardneriana, P. Zanthoxylum, Actinostemon.