Foraging Behavior of the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) upon the Male and Female Flowers of Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) (Cucurbitaceae) in the Region of Tizi-Ouzou (Algeria)

Authors

  • Y Korichi Laboratoire de production, amélioration et protection des végétaux et denrées alimentaires. Faculté des sciences biologiques et des sciences agronomiques. Université Mouloud Mammeri deTizi-Ouzou, Algérie.
  • M Aouar-Sadli Laboratoire de production, amélioration et protection des végétaux et denrées alimentaires. Faculté des sciences biologiques et des sciences agronomiques. Université Mouloud Mammeri de Tizi-Ouzou.
  • K Khelfane-Goucem Laboratoire de Production, sauvegarde des espèces menacées et des récoltes. Faculté des sciences biologiques et des sciences agronomiques. Université Mouloud Mammeri de Tizi-Ouzou.
  • H Ikhlef Laboratoire de production, amélioration et protection des végétaux et denrées alimentaires. Faculté des sciences biologiques et des sciences agronomiques. Université Mouloud Mammeri de Tizi-Ouzou.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48165/

Keywords:

Apis mellifera, behavior, Cucurbita pepo, foraging, insects, honey bees, squash

Abstract

Cucurbitaceae species depend on pollination by  bees for fruit production. The objective of this  present work was to identify the insect visitors of  squash and to study the foraging behavior of the  most abundant species in the field. Identification  of foraging insects of Cucurbita pepo L.  (Cucurbitaceae) were performed during 2016 and  2017 flowering periods in the region of Tizi Ouzou (Algeria). Observations showed that the  majority of the insects visiting squash flowers  were Apoides Hymenoptera belonging to two  families: Apidae and Halictidae. Six species of  bees were recorded upon the plant, of which the  honey bee Apis mellifera L. was the most frequent  species. The study of the foraging activity of  these insects showed that their visits to squash  flowers were more intense at 8am and 9am and  were essentially devoted to nectar harvesting.  Bee visits proportions were higher on staminate  flowers than on pistillate flowers. The duration of  visits to flowers was significantly longer in  staminate flowers.

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References

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Published

2019-10-11

Issue

Vol. 38 No. 2 (2019): Bulletin of Pure and Applied Sciences Zoology (Jul-Dec) 2019

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Foraging Behavior of the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) upon the Male and Female Flowers of Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) (Cucurbitaceae) in the Region of Tizi-Ouzou (Algeria) . (2019). Bulletin of Pure & Applied Sciences- Zoology , 38(2), 52–60. https://doi.org/10.48165/