Foraging activity of Apis mellifera Linnaeus (Hymenoptera: Apidae) visiting the flowers of four plant species in the urban area of Ngaoundéré (Cameroon)

Abstract

This study was conducted to identify the foraging behaviour of honey bees Apis mellifera in the search for food during their visit to Brillantaisia ulugurica, Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Calliandra tweedii and Tecoma stans flowers and to assess the apicultural value of these plants. Apis mellifera foraging activity was therefore studied from March 2016 to February 2018 at Ngaoundere town (Adamaoua, Cameroon). The flowers of each plant species were observed two days per week, between 07.00 am and 18.00 pm, for recording the pollen and/or nectar foraging behaviour of the honey bee. Results showed that A. mellifera harvested nectar and pollen on each of these plant species, nectar being the most intensely harvested floral product. The greatest mean numbers of workers foraging simultaneously per 1000 flowers were 158.27, 77.70, 141.37 and 141.02 for B. ulugurica, Cae. pulcherrima, Cal. tweedii and T. stans respectively. The mean foraging speed varied from 9.97 flowers/min (T. stans) to 21.44 flowers/min (Cae. pulcherrima). Thus, B. ulugurica, Cae. pulcherrima, Cal. tweedii and T. stans could be cultivated and protected to increase honey production in the urban area of Ngaoundere. Moreover, B. ulugurica, Cae. pulcherrima and Cal. Tweedii could be cultivated and protected to increase pollen production as a hive product in this environment.