Apis cerana ceranais an important indigenous pollinator in China. In order to evaluate the ecological value of urban habitat toA. c. cerana, the food sources and honey quality in spring were investigated and determined by artificially raised honeybee colonies in urban areas. The results showed that there were abundant flowering plant resources in urban gardens in spring, and the honeybees could effectively collect nectar and pollen as food sources. The suburban crops were the food source of the honeybees as well. Except for the early flowering stage of rape (Brassica napusvar.oleifera), the proportion of rape pollen in honey was less than 50%, indicating that even there were abundant flowering crops, the garden plants were still an important food source for urban honeybees in spring. The contents of metal elements were varied in different colonies and time, and no harmful elements such as Cr, Cd and Pb were detected. However, Al and V elements were detected in honey sample, and the content of Zn in urban honey was higher than that of the countryside. These results suggested that the quality of nectar was good, but attention should be paid to prevent the risk factors. The current study provides a reference for understanding the food quality of flower-visiting insects provided by urban garden plants and guiding the urban beekeeping.
