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Project Noah Nature School
Apis cerana
Twenty to 30 honey bees vigorously going after the flowers of this palm inflorescence. Apis cerana is a species of honey bee found in southern and southeastern Asia. "Records indicate that Asian bees were moved into [Papua] from Java in 1977. By 1987 they had spread into PNG." (see the bottom reference listed at right).
On the inflorescence of an Areca palm in a large semi-urban yard and garden. A remnant patch of disturbed lowland forest is located nearby.
The pursuit of food (--hopefully accompanied by a highly successful pollination--) was so vigorous that there was a constant shower of petals falling. The last photo shows the complete denudation of the inflorescence just one to two hours after the 5th photo was taken.
Spotted on Dec 14, 2011
Submitted on Dec 14, 2011
4 Comments
I was astounded!
Thanks Frazier! I had no idea bees could work that fast!
Wow, they are very fast for food,
Wow. I just added a new 6th photo that shows the incredible "efficiency" of these bees. They were so vigorous in their pursuit of food that there was a constant shower of petals falling. The new photo shows the complete denudation of the inflorescence just one to two hours after the 5th photo was taken!