Letters

RUBBER NECTAR

I have the following comments to make on the article Rubber: the honey spinner by Mr Dhammeratchi which appeared in Beekeeping & Development 25.

Rubber plants produce flush a of trifoliate leaves between February and May which generally coincide with the flowering period.

The nectar (sweet liquid) is produced in three small oblong nectaries at the base of the petiolules* as extrafloral nectaries are exposed.

The nectar which is produced often collects into big drop at the tip of the petiolules. Honeybees collect the nectar and convert it into honey. The sugar concentration of the nectar is very high.

The author referred to this nectar as sap as it is secretion from leaf glands. I feel it would be more appropriate to use the term “foliar nectar” or leaf secretion rather than sap. See also the work by Shankuntala Nair and Wakhle published in the Indian Bee Journal (1983).

*a petiolule is the stalk of leaflet in compound leaf [Ed]

K Ram Mohan, India

WELCOME BACK

On behalf of the entire beekeeping community of Tobago wish to welcome the return of Beekeeping & Development. Like beekeepers from many developing countries, Tobago beekeepers have benefited from this very informative publication.

Our very best wishes to you and the new organisation Bees for Development.

Gladstone Solomon, President, Tobago Apicultural Society.