Improving the production of Millettia laurentii (Fabaceae) by a floral visit of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Dang (Ngaoundéré, Cameroon)
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In Dang (Ngaoundere, Cameroon) in 2020 and 2021, Millettia laurentii flowers were observed with a view to studying the foraging and pollination activity of A. mellifera.For each year, the experiments involved 540 labeled floral bouquets divided into four treatments: 120 unprotected bouquets; 120 bouquets protected from insects using gauze bags; 200 bouquets protected from insects, intended to be uncovered so that each flower is visited once by A. mellifera, before being protected again; 100 bouquets protected from insects and then intended to be uncovered and protected again, without visits from insects or any other organism.The foraging activity of A. mellifera at the flower level as well as its pollinating efficiency based in particular on the fruiting rate, the percentage of mature pods, the number of seeds per pod and the percentage of normal seeds were evaluated.Out of 14 insect species recorded on the flowers, A. mellifera came third with 7.81% of 2646 visits.This bee collected nectar and pollen heavily at the flower level.The activity of this bee began around 6 am and ended around 6 pm, with a peak of visits between 10 am and 11 am.The average number of foragers simultaneously active was 56.50 per 1000 flowers.Millettia laurentii is a highly nectariferous and polliniferous beekeeping plant.Through the pollinating efficiency of a floral visit, A. mellifera increased the fruiting rate by 46.12%, Improving the …
Language: English
Topic: Plant and animal studies
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4410100076