Foraging Activity of Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) on Corn Panicles at Yaoundé, Cameroon

Authors

  • Dounia Zoology Laboratory, Higher Teacher’s Training College, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
  • Amada Brahim National Committee for Development of Technologies, Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation (CNDT/MINRESI), Yaoundé-Cameroon
  • Chantal Douka Zoology Laboratory, Higher Teacher’s Training College, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
  • Stephan Pierre Elono Azang Zoology Laboratory, Higher Teacher’s Training College, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
  • Clautin Ningatoloum Department of Biological Sciences, University Adam Barka of Abéché, Abéché, Chad
  • Roger Belinga Belinga Zoology Laboratory, Higher Teacher’s Training College, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
  • Francis Gagni Ankemekom Zoology Laboratory, Higher Teacher’s Training College, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
  • Fomekong Flavie Zoology Laboratory, Higher Teacher’s Training College, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
  • Joseph Lebel Tamesse Zoology Laboratory, Higher Teacher’s Training College, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon
  • Fernand-Nestor Tchuenguem Fohouo Laboratory of Applied Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundéré, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20448/803.3.2.64.71

Keywords:

Apis mellifera, Zea mays, Panicles, Pollen, Pollination.

Abstract

To evaluate the impact of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and other flowering insects on seed production of Zea mays, its foraging and pollinating activities were studied in Yaoundé, during the mild rainy season of 2016 and 2017. Treatments included unlimited plants access by all pollinator insects and bagged plants to avoid all visits. For each year of study, observations were made on 12 plants per treatment. Apis mellifera foraging behavior and effect of pollinator insects in seed yield were evaluated. Results show that this bee foraged pollen on Z. mays panicles during the whole blooming period. The percentage of lines completely filled with seeds, the mean number of seeds per lines and the percentage of normal seeds of unprotected plants were significantly higher than those of plants protected from pollinator insects. Pollinator insects included A. mellifera provoked a significant increment of the percentage of lines completely filled with seeds by 26.80% in 2016, 9.90% in 2017, the mean number of seeds per lines by 31.04% in 2016, 18.96% in 2017 and the percentage of normal seeds by 2.01% in 2016 and 2.53% in 2017. The installation of A. mellifera colonies and nests of pollinator insects close to Z. mays fields is recommended to increase seed yield in the region.

How to Cite

Dounia, Brahim, A. ., Douka, C. ., Azang, S. P. E. ., Ningatoloum, C. ., Belinga, R. B. ., Ankemekom, F. G. ., Flavie, F. ., Tamesse, J. L. ., & Fohouo, F.-N. T. . (2018). Foraging Activity of Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae) on Corn Panicles at Yaoundé, Cameroon. Canadian Journal of Agriculture and Crops, 3(2), 64–71. https://doi.org/10.20448/803.3.2.64.71

Issue

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2018)

Section

Articles