Survey of crop- plants and honey bee pollination: A stimulus to food security in Kwara State Nigeria

Abstract

The relevance of honey bees and their role in pollination and consequently in food production can not be over overemphasized. This present study was planned to observe, document bee’s pollinators’ activities, identify common bee forage plants, as well as investigate bee/plant interaction. The study was conducted at five research bee farms (apiaries) which were purposefully selected due to their locations and standard. These include Afon, Amberi, Buari, Kwara State University Malete and University of Ilorin apiaries located within guinea and derived ecological zones of Kwara State, Nigeria. The study involves a survey of types of plants visited by worker honey bees for nectar and/or pollen in and around the apiaries, collection and identification of plant species types. The result of the study on the frequency of bee visitation among foraging plants revealed Parkia biglobosa (18.71%); Azadiracta indica (17.14%); Anarcadium occidentale (14.93%) at the Guinea savanna, while Moringa oleifera (17.97%); Pisdium guajava (17.12%) and Butyrospermum parkii (12.88%) were recorded at derived savannah areas. On food crops visited by bees Arachis hypogea (24.06%); Phaseolus vulgaris (22.29%); Abelmoschus esculentus (21.59%) and Citrullus colocynthis (16.35%) are most important food crops while cereal crops include Zea mays (0.21%) and Sorghum bicolor (0.14%) were less visited by honey bee. Cultivation of a wide variety of bee plants to provide adequate incentive for the bee colony and avoid Apis mellifera swarming occasioned by inadequate nectar and pollen is among the suggestions proffered.