No abstract

This study was examined the characteristics on the pollinating activities of Apis mellifera, Bombus ignitus and B. terrestris as pollinators on the watermelon flowers(Citrullus vulgaris Schrad), and the effects of the pollination by pollinators compared to the artificial pollination in the watermelon green houses in Nonsan City on summer season in 2005. As a result, B. ignitus and B. terrestris could not be used for summer season, because the bumblebees were not pollinated effectively indeed even two days after hives were released at watermelon green houses during the summer cultivating period. It could not be controlled a poor watermelon house conditions; high temperature and low humidity on summer season which were the bad environment for pollinating activities of bumblebees. But this study was showed that A. mellifera could be used comparatively good pollinator instead of artificial pollination in spite of the bad environment for bee within the watermelon green houses on summer season.Key words : Honeybee, Apis mellifera, Watermelon(Citrullus vulgaris), Foraging activity, Pollinator