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Abstract
Every beekeeper is expected to be familiar with the bee floral resources near/ or around his/her apiary for successful beekeeping operation. Understanding the major nectar and pollen producing plants and their flowering period is of great advantage to maximise the efficiency of the bees. Regrettably however, there is dearth of information on floral resources of honeybees in southwestern Nigeria. This study investigated the food-plants of honeybees (Apis mellifera andasonii) in the rainforest and derived savannah zones of southwestern Nigeria between April 2009 and March 2011. Forty nine species of melliferous plants belonging to different families were recorded. The flowering period of each plant species differs from one another. However, there was no month in the year that a plant was not in flower. Differences in bee visitation rates to each plant species were observed. Bee flowering calendar was prepared with the intensity of bee visitation rates. The ethno-medicinal uses of the bee-plants were also documented.
Highlights
The African honeybee, Apis mellifera andasonii is the major honey producing bee in southwestern Nigeria
Understanding the major nectar and pollen producing plants and their flowering period is of great advantage to maximise the efficiency of the bees
This study investigated the food-plants of honeybees (Apis mellifera andasonii) in the rainforest and derived savannah zones of southwestern Nigeria between April 2009 and March 2011
Summary
The African honeybee, Apis mellifera andasonii is the major honey producing bee in southwestern Nigeria. It is found in the wild and deliberately kept by beekeepers. This bee is an insect that lives in groups or colonies showing social organisations among its castes and in the area of division of labour. It has well developed mouth part and other structural adaptations for collecting nectar and pollen. Foraging bees can cover up to eight kilometres radius for pollen, nectar and resinous substances from plants. There are many flowering plants, but not all can be harvested by honey bees, because of their physiognomy (body size and shape, length of proboscis, etc.) In apiculture, a plant is classified as melliferous if it can be harvested by honey bees
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