Foraging behaviour of Apis mellifera adansonii Latreille (Hymenoptera : Apidae) on Daniellia oliveri, Delonix regia, Hymenocardia acida and Terminalia mantaly flowers in Ngaoundéré (Cameroon)

Abstract

To determine the apicultural value of Daniellia oliveri, Delonix regia, Hymenocardia acida and Terminalia mantaly, the foraging activity of the honey bee, Apis mellifera adansonii was studied on flowers in the area of Ngaoundéré, from December 2001 to May 2002 and from December 2002 to May 2003. At Dang, flowers of each plant species were prospected at least four days per month, between 07.00 and 18.00 h, for recording of the nectar and/or pollen foraging behaviour of A. m. adansonii workers. Results showed that A. m. adansonii harvested nectar and pollen of each plant species. The greatest number of workers foraging simultaneously on a plant varied from 230 (H. acida) to 3500 (De. Regia). A. m. adansonii workers that visited flowers of a given plant species once generally remained with this nectar and/or pollen sources throughout the observation period. Thus Da. oliveri, De. regia, H. acida and T. mantaly could be cultivated and protected to increase honey production. Each of the four plant species could enable beekeepers to increase their pollen production as a hive product. On each plant species, A. m. adansonii workers carried pollen from one flower to another and can thus be considered as pollinators.
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Keywords: Nectar, pollen, bee plant, apicultural value, honey, pollination, Dang.