Research Article
Denis Djonwangwe1 and 2*, Fern
Abstract
To determine the apicultural value of Ximenia americana L. 1927 (Olacaceae) and to evaluate the Apis mellifera adansonii Latreille 1804 (Hymenoptera: Apidae) activity on its fruit yield, the bee foraging and pollination activities were studied in the Ngaoundéré in the gallery forests and savannah of Tchabal-Bambi and Béka, for two seasons (February - March, 2006 and 2007). One hundred and twenty and 200 flower clusters subdivided in two lots based on the presence or absence of protection of flower clusters from insects using gauze bags. The bee’s seasonal rhythm of visits, the daily activity of workers, the abundance of foragers on 1000 flowers and the fruiting index of labelled inflorescences were evaluated. Results show that A. m. adansonii foraged on plant all day and during all periods of blooming. Each year, worker bees intensely harvested nectar and pollen. The greatest mean numbers of workers foraging simultaneously were 513 per 1000 flowers in 2006 and 447 per 1000 flowers in 2007. The rhythm of A. m. adansonii visits was positively correlated to the rhythm of X. americana flowers blooming. The fructification index of the unprotected flower clusters was significantly higher than that of flower clusters protected from insects. The contribution of A. m. adansonii in the fructification index was 87.34% in 2006 and 59.38% in 2007. This study allows the classification of the Olacaceae as a very highly nectariferous and highly polliniferous bee plant. The installation of A. m. adansonii colonies near the populations of X. americana is recommended to improve fruit and honey production in the region