Diversity of wild and honey bees in relation with melliferous plants in northern Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa
Paper Details
Diversity of wild and honey bees in relation with melliferous plants in northern Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa
Abstract
Melliferous plants are crucial for bee conservation since they constitute their main food resources. Unfortunately, knowledge on melliferous plants is poorly documented in the Sudanese savannas of West Africa, particularly in northern Côte d’Ivoire, where ecosystems and biodiversity are threatened by land use intensification and increasing degradation of natural habitats. This study for the first time focused on melliferous plants in northern Côte d’Ivoire. It aimed to know and conserve food resources of bees. Sampling was done in Loufa within the department of Korhogo. Bee visits were observed from plant inflorescences during different flowering periods. The names of plant species visited by bees and the collected nutrients were also recorded. A total of 59 melliferous plants belonging to 54 genera and 27 families were visited by bees for nectar or pollen. Combretaceae and Fabaceae were the most visited plant families. In addition, Combretum collinum, Combretum molle, Annona senegalensis, Azadirachta indica, Cassia arereh, Diospyros mespiliformis and Anogeissus leiocarpa were the most attractive plant species. Bee species were distributed depending on plant species and collected nutrients. Bee richness was highest with Cassia arereh and Combretum collinum. The honey bee was recorded on all melliferous plants except Hyptis suaveolens. More than half (55.93%) of melliferous plants were visited for both nectar and pollen. About 23.73% of plants were visited only for nectar and 20.34% only for pollen. The findings are very relevant because they contribute to monitoring bee communities and their ecosystem services in northern Côte d’Ivoire.
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Drissa Coulibaly*, Yalamoussa Tuo, Adjoua Madeleine Kouassi, Dognimin Issouf Soro, Mouhamadou Kone, Larba Hubert Balima, 2026. Diversity of wild and honey bees in relation with melliferous plants in northern Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa. J. Biodiv. Environ. Sci., 29(2), 10-21.
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