Honey bee abundance, flora species composition and diversity for urban apiculture development opportunities in Dambi Dollo Town, Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Urban apiculture is widely regarded as one of the finest methods for combating bee population loss, poverty, food insecurity and unemployment.  A longitudinal field survey was used to assess honey bee abundance and flora diversity during peak honey bee flora blossoming time in Biftu, Dollo, Lafto and Yabelo sites of Dambi Dollo town. Field observation and targeted sweep netting methods were used to collect foraging honey bees. Managed honey bee colonies were sampled by apiary inspection and wild honey bee colonies were also recorded by colony census in all available and accessible nesting sites. For the honey bee flora, a 200 m long and 1 m wide transect plot was established and all trees, shrubs and herbs species found in the plot were recorded. The bees were observed while foraging on a total of 20 honey bee floral species. Totally, 2369 managed honey bee colony positive hives were observed in all sites with a relative abundance of 66.1%. Nine wild honey bee colonies were recorded with the highest abundance at Biftu (55.5%) followed by Dollo (33.3%). A total of 49 bee flora species belonging to 32 families were identified in the study area. The numbers of flora species were similar and generally evenly distributed among the local sites. In conclusion, Dambi Dollo town has an abundant bee fauna, floristic composition, and diversity for urban apiculture development. Further studies on mellissopalynology from pollen load and honey pollen analysis are recommended to establish floral calendar and monofloral honey in the area.