Biological diversity of the entomofauna associated with Citrullus lanatus (Cucurbitaceae) flowers and assessment of its impact on yields

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to study the biodiversity of the floral entomofauna of Citrullus lanatus and assess its impact on yields. Two treatments of female flowers were differentiated according to the presence or the absence of protection for insect visits. In the third experiment, a hive bee was placed on the field of watermelon. The insect species richness, the relative abundance, the frequency of visits and guilds were recorded and yields were compared between treatments. Four guilds, including nectarivorous, pollinivorous, fruit-feeders and predators were found on flowers. Bees showed floral constancy during the blooming period. Constant species may be of use in the pollination of Watermelon with the prominent Apis mellifera adansonii. Female flowers without bee visitations do not produce fruits. Yields were high in treatment with open-pollinated flowers especially with honeybee management. It is important practice to introduce colonies of honeybee hive on the perimeter of C. lanatus fields.