Honeybee Foraging on Wild Flowers in Dang, Cameroon | InformativeBD

Fernand-Nestor Tchuenguem Fohouo, Christian Wékéré, Delphine Nguemo Dongock, Sidonie Fameni and Tope, from the institute of Cameroon. wrote a Research article about, Honeybee Foraging on Wild Flowers in Dang, Cameroon. entitled, Exploitation of Acacia sieberiana, Allophylus africanus and Flacourtia indica flowers by Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) at Dang (Ngaoundéré, Cameroon). This research paper published by the Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences | JBES. an open access scholarly research journal on Biodiversity. under the affiliation of the International Network For Natural Sciences| INNSpub. an open access multidisciplinary research journal publisher.

Abstract

To date, in Cameroon, the demand for honey and other hive products is very high, partly because of the absent of the knowledge of the apicultural value of many plant species. This research was conducted to evaluate the apicultural value of Acacia sieberiana DC., Allophylus africanus P. Beauv. and Flacourtia indica (Burm. F.) Merr. Apis mellifera Linnaeus workers foraging activity was studied on the flowers of these plant species, from March to July 2015 and 2016. At Dang, the flowers of each plant species were observed two days per week, between 7am and 18pm, for recording the pollen and/or nectar foraging behaviour of A. mellifera workers. Results showed that, A. mellifera harvested intensely and regularly the nectar of each plant species. In addition, F. indica was visited intensely for pollen; Al. africanus and Ac. sieberiana were also visited for pollen but slightly. The greatest mean number of workers foraging simultaneously in activity per 1000 flowers varied from 210 (Al. africanus) to 634 (Ac. sieberiana). The mean foraging speed varied from 6.53 flowers/min (Ac. sieberiana) to 30.44 flowers/min (Al. africanus) in 2015 and  5.87 flowers/min (Ac. sieberiana) to 23.94 flowers/min (Al. africanus) in 2016. Thus, Ac. sieberiana, Al. africanus and F. indica could be cultivated and protected to increase honey production. Flacourtia indica could enable beekeepers to increase their pollen production as a hive product. During foraging, A. mellifera workers improved pollination possibilities of each plant species.

Read more : Foliar Glycine Betaine Improves Broccoli Performance | InformativeBD

Introduction

Honeybee (Apis mellifera Linnaeus) is a social insect that builds its nest in a cavity, by connecting cones to the upper wall (Michel et al., 1994). In nests also called hives, the bees live in colonies containing about 50000 to 60000 individuals (Michel et al., 1994). Acacia sieberiana (Fabaceae) DC., Allophylus africanus (Sapindaceae) P. Beauv. and Flacourtia indica (Flacourtiaceae) (Burm. F.) Merr. are the plant species who provide the alimentary resources (nectar et pollen) for honeybees. The plant species flowers are visited by these bees for the nectar and the pollen collection. The basic foods of each A. mellifera colony are nectar and pollen (Villières, 1987; Jha and Vandermeer, 2009) collected from many plant species (Morse and Calderone, 2000). The nectar is transformed into honey which is stored together with pollen in the hive for future use (Crane, 1999). These substances have been exploited by humans for thousands of years (Crane, 1999). The production of these two substances depends on the abundance of some plant species in the environment of the apiary and their attractiveness to honeybees (Afik et al., 2006). Thus sustainable beekeeping in a given Region requires a detailed knowledge of the apicultural value of the plant species that grow in the environment of the Apiaries (Leven et al., 2005).

Before this study, there was no literature on the relationship between the honeybees and many plant species (including Acacia sieberiana, Allophylus africanus and Flacourtia indica) in Cameroon. Yet, in this country, because of the increasing demand for hive products such as honey and pollen, beekeeping needs to be developed (INADES, 2000).

The main objective of this work was to study of the relationships between A. mellifera Linnaeus, Acacia sieberiana (Fabaceae) DC., Allophylus africanus (Sapindaceae) P. Beauv. and Flacourtia indica (Burm. F.) Murr. for their optimal exploitation. For each plant species, we recorded the activity of A. mellifera on flowers, evaluated the apicultural value and registered the pollination behaviour of A. mellifera.

Reference

Abebe JW, Amssalu B, Kefelegn K. 2014. Floral phenology and pollen potential of honey bee plants in North-East dry land areas of Amhara region, Ethiopia. Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science 7, 36– 49. www.iosrjournals.org

Afik O, Dag A, Shafir S. 2006. The effect of avocado (Persea americana) nectar composition on its attractiveness to honeybees (Apis mellifera). Apidologie 37, 317– 325.

Basualdo M, Bedascarrasbure E, De Jong D. 2000. Africanized honeybees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) have a greater fidelity to sunflowers than European bees. Journal of Economic Entomology 93, 304– 307.

Crane E. 1999. The world history of beekeeping and honey hunting. Duckworth, London, 682.

Djakbé JD, Ngakou A, Wékéré C, Faїbawa E, Tchuenguem FFN. 2017. Pollination and yield components of Physalis minima (Solanaceae) as affected by the foraging activity of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and compost at Dang (Ngaoundéré, Cameroon). International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research 11, 43–60.

Djonwangwé D. 2013. Activité de butinage et de pollinisation de Apis mellifera adansonii Latreille (Apidae, Apinae) sur les fleurs de trois plantes à Ngaoundéré (Cameroun). Thèse de Doctorat/Ph.D., Faculté des Sciences, Université de Yaoundé I, 171.

Djonwangwé D, Tchuenguem FFN, Messi J. 2011a. Foraging and pollination activities of Apis mellifera adansonii (Hymenoptera: Apidae) on Ximenia americana (Olacaceae) flowers at Ngaoundéré (Cameroon). International Research Journal of Plant Science 2, 170– 178.

Djonwangwé D, Tchuenguem FFN, Messi J, Brückner D. 2011b. Foraging and pollination activities of Apis mellifera adansonii (Apidae) on Syzygium guineense var. guineense (Myrtaceae) flowers at Ngaoundéré (Cameroon). Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences 3, 1325– 1333.

Djoufack V, Fontaine B, Martiny N, Tsalefac M. 2012. Climatic and demographic determinants of vegetation cover in northern Cameroon. International Journal of Remote Sensing 21, 6904– 6926.

Dongock ND, Zra E, Tchuenguem FFN. 2017a. Bee plant potentials and characteristics in the Ngaoundal subdivision, Adamawa-Cameroon. Agricultural Science Research Journal 7, 285– 296.

Dongock ND, Tientcheu MLA, Mbaiti D, Saradoum G, Pinta JY. 2017b. Importance écologique et potentialité apicole à la périphérie du Parc national de Manda en zone soudanienne du Moyen – Chari (Tchad), International Journal of Environmental Studies 74, 443– 457.

Fameni ST, Tchuenguem FFN, Brückner D. 2012. Pollination efficiency of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) on Callistemon rigidus (Myrtaceae) flowers at Dang (Ngaoundéré, Cameroon). International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 32, 2– 11. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758412000033

Freitas BM. 1997. Number and distribution of cashew (Anacardium occidentale) pollen grains on the bodies of its pollinators, Apis mellifera and Centris tarsata. Journal of Apicultural Research 36, 15–22.

Frisch KV. 1969. Vie et mœurs des abeilles. A. Michel (ed.), Paris, 556.

Jacob-Remacle A. 1989. Comportement de butinage de l’abeille domestique et des abeilles sauvages dans des vergers de pommiers en Belgique. Apidologie 20, 271– 285.

Leven L, Boot VWJ, Mutsaers M, Segeren P, Velthuis H. 2005. Beekeeping in the Tropics [Agrodock 32] (6th edn). Agromisa Foundation and CTA, Wageningen, 87.

Lobreau-Callen D, Coutin R. 1987. Ressources florales exploitées par quelques Apoïdes des zones cultivées en savane arborée sénégalaise durant la saison des pluies. Agronomie 7, 231– 246.

Louveaux J. 1984. L’abeille domestique dans ses relations avec les plantes cultivées. In: “Pollinisation et productions végétales’’, Pesson P. & Louveaux J. (Eds), INRA, Paris, 527– 555.

Hill PSM, Wells PH, Wells H. 1997. Spontanoues flower constancy and learning in honeybees as a function of colour. Animal Behaviour 54, 615– 627.

INADES. 2000. Rapport des ateliers avec les Apiculteurs de’Adamaoua. INADES-Formation Cameroun, Antenne de Maroua (ed), Maroua, 29.

Jha S, Vandermeer JH. 2009. Contrasting bee foraging in response to resource scale and local habitat management. Oikos 118, 1174– 1180.

Kajobe R. 2006. Pollen foraging by Apis mellifera and stingless bees Meliponula bocandei and Meliponula nebulata in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda. African Journal of Ecology 45, 265– 274.

Kwaga BT, Akosim C, Dishan EE, Khobe D. 2016. Potentials of flora species on the yield of honey in Dakka forest reserve, Bali local government area of Taraba state, Nigeria. Journal of Research in Forestry, Wildlife & Environment 8, 2141-1778.

María R, José QE. 2013. Pollinators in biofuel agricultural systems: the diversity and performance of bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) on Jatropha curcas in Mexico. Apidologie 44, 419– 429. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13592-013-0193-x

Michel N, Bierna M, Greuse MJ, Decot B, Cloes G, Rafamatamantsoa LE. 1994. L’apiculture. Echos du cota n° 65, 15.

Montgomery BR. 2009. Do pollen carryover and pollinator constancy mitigate effects of competition for pollination? Oikos 118, 1084– 1092.

Morse RA, Calderone NW. 2000. The value of honeybees as pollinators of US crops. Science of Bee culture 1– 15.

Népidé NC, Tchuenguem FFN. 2016. Pollination efficiency of Apis mellifera adansonii (Hymenoptera: Apidae) on Croton macrostachyus (Euphorbiaceae) flowers at Dang, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. International Journal of Biosciences 3, 75–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/9.3.75-88

Nnamani CV, Uguru AN. 2013. Diversity of honey producing plants of Southern Nigeria : basic prerequisite for conservation and sustainability. Journal of Sustainability Science and Management 8, 103- 112.

Pharaon MA, Dounia, Douka C, Otiobo AEN, Tchuenguem FFN. 2018. Pollination efficiency of Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera : Apidae) on flowers of Sesamum indicum L. (Pedaliaceae) at Bilone (Obala, Cameroon). International Journal of Research Studies in Agricultural Sciences 4, 12– 20. http://dx.doi.org/10.20431/2454-6224.0403003

Philippe JM. 1991. La pollinisation par les abeilles: pose des colonies dans les cultures en floraison en vue d´accroître les rendements des productions végétales. EDISUD, Aix-en-Provence, 178.

Potts S, Biesmeijer K, Bommarco R, Breeze T, Carvalheiro L, Franzén M. 2015. Status and trends of European pollinators. Key findings of the STEP project. Pensoft Publishers, Sofia., 72.

Tchuenguem FFN. 2005. Activité de butinage et de pollinisation de Apis mellifera adansonii  (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Apinae) sur les fleurs de trois plantes à Ngaoundéré (Cameroun): Callistemon rigidus (Myrtaceae), Syzygium guineense var. macrocarpum (Myrtaceae) et Voacanga africana (Apocynaceae). Thèse de Doctorat d’État, Université de Yaoundé I., 103.

Tchuenguem FFN, Djonwangwé D, Brückner D. 2008. Foraging behaviour of the african honeybee (Apis mellifera adansonii) on Annona senegalensis, Croton macrostachyus, Psorospermum febrifugum and Syzygium guineense var. guineense at Ngaoundéré (Cameroon). Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences 11, 719– 725. http://dx.doi.org/10.3923/pjbs.2008.719.725

Tchuenguem FFN, Ngakou A, Kengni BS. 2009a. Pollination and yield responses of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) to the foraging activity of Apis mellifera adansonii (Hymenoptera: Apidae) at Ngaoundéré (Cameroon). African Journal of Biotechnology 8, 1988– 1996.

Tchuenguem FFN, Djonwangwé D, Messi J, Brückner D. 2009b. Activité de butinage et de pollinisation de Apis mellifera adansonii (Hymenoptera, Apidae) sur les fleurs de Helianthus annuus (Asteraceae) à Ngaoundéré (Cameroun). Cameroon Journal of Experimental Biology 5, 1– 9.

Tchuenguem FFN, Fameni T, Pharaon MA, Messi J, Brückner D. 2010. Foraging behaviour of Apis mellifera adansonii (Hymenoptera: Apidae) on Combretum nigricans, Erythrina sigmoidea, Lannea kerstingii and Vernonia amygdalina flowers at Dang (Ngaoundéré, Cameroon). International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 30, 40– 47. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758410000019

Tchuenguem FFN, Népidé NC. 2018. Efficacité pollinisatrice de Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera : Apidae) sur Sesamum indicum (Pedaliaceae) var. Graine Blanche et Lisse à Dang (Ngaoundéré, Cameroun). International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences 12, 446– 461.

Tossou GM, Yedomonhan H, Azokpoda P, Akoegnonou A, Doubogan P, Akapagana K. 2011. Analyse pollinique et caractérisation phytogéographique des miels vendus à Cotonou (Bénin). Cahiers Agricultures 20, 500– 508. http://dx.doi.org/10.1684/agr.2011.0527

Valdeyron G. 1984. Production des semences pour quelques plantes de grandes cultures: céréales, graminées fourragères, betterave à sucre. In: “Pollinisation et productions végétales”, Pesson P. & Louveaux J. (Eds), INRA, Paris, 143– 330.

Villières B. 1987. L’apiculture en Afrique Tropicale. Dossier “Le point sur” n°11, GRET, Paris, 220.

Wright GA, Skinner BD, Smith BH. 2002. Ability of honeybee, Apis mellifera, to detect and discriminate odors of varieties of canola (Brassica rapa and Brassica napus) and snapgragon flowers (Antirrhinum majus). Journal of Chemical Ecology 28, 721– 740. http://dx.doi.org/0098-0331/02/0400-0721/0

Yédomonhan H, Tossou MG, Akoègninou A, Demènou BB, Traoré D. 2009. Diversité des plantes mellifères de la zone soudano-guinéenne: cas de l’arrondissement de Manigri (Centre-Ouest du Bénin). International Journal of Biological and Chemical Sciences 3, 355– 366.

Zumba JX, Myers GO, Clawson EL, Miller DK, Danka RG, Blanche SB. 2013. Developing hybrid cotton (Gossypium spp.) using honeybees as pollinators and the roundup ready phenotype as the selection trait. Journal of Cotton Science 17, 293– 301.

Article source : Exploitation of Acacia sieberiana, Allophylus africanus and Flacourtia indica flowers by Apismellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) at Dang (Ngaoundéré, Cameroon)