Abstract:
Different plant species have different color of flower and variation of sugar concentration that
highly influence on foraging behavior of honeybee. The objective of the study was to evaluate
attraction of sugar contain plant, color preference and foraging behavioral time of honeybees
Apis mellifera, L. (Hymenoptera: Apidea, Apis mellifera) in Ejersa Lafo district, west Shewa.
The observation and field note method of study design was used in this study. Cross-sectional
field trail an experimental sampling design was used in this study.The observation was carried
out on purposively selected kebeles based on honey production potential. Quantitative data
gathering method was used in this study, through preparing grounded sugar source and three
background colored papers. The two cup of each grounded sugar source including banana fruit,
sweet potato stem, sugarcane stem and normal sugar were measured and added on three
background colored papers and put on table stand 15m far from honeybee hive. Observation and
counted were undertaken in the field around the hive of honeybee, observer sat 2m far from the
prepared table. The collection of data was done six times for the full day with two hours period
intervals. The numbers of honeybee visit to prepared four sugar source on three background
colors at each time interval was counted and recorded. This observation and count was done for
three days per a season in three seasons or one day per a month for selected kebele and
honeybee farms. The highest average mean number of honeybees was collected from Cheleleka
Bobe and the least was collected from Sarrawa Debisa kebele. The greatest mean number of
honeybees were landed on normal sugar followed by banana. The higher mean number of
honeybees was attracted by yellow color followed by white. The active foraging time of the day
for honeybee was from 6:00am-8:00 am with 181.1 mean number and the least was recorded
from 12:00pm-2:00pm with 121.3 mean number in study area. The higher average mean number
of honeybees was collected in the winter season than spring and autumn. In conclusion, the
honeybees were highly attracted by normal sugar that added on yellow color background paper
at 6:00am-8:00am in February at winter season from Cheleleka Bobe kebele.
Keyword,Season,Be-plant,interaction,Altitu
