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International Research Journal of Plant Science (ISSN: 2141-5447) Vol. 4(2) pp. 33-44, February, 2013
Available online http://www.interesjournals.org/IRJPS
Copyright © 2013 International Research Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Foraging and pollination activity of Apis mellifera
adansonii Latreille (Hymenoptera: Apidae) on flowers of
Gossypium hirsutum L. (Malvaceae) at Maroua,
Cameroon
*1-2 Dounia, 1-2 Chantal Douka, 2 Fernand-Nestor Tchuenguem Fohouo
1 Laboratory of Zoology, Higher Teacher’s Training College, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé Cameroon
2 Laboratory of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ngaoundéré, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
Abstract
To evaluate the impact of Apis mellifera adansonii (Hymenoptera: Apoïdae) on boll and seed of
Gossypium hirsutum its foraging and pollinating activities were studied in Maroua, during two years of
flowering (August-October 2010 and 2011). Treatments included unlimited floral access by all visitors,
bagged flowers to avoid all visits and limited visits of A. m. adansonii. Observations were made on 100
flowers per treatment. Determined the activities of this insect, pollination efficiency and the impact of it
on boll and seed yields this Malvaceae. 40 identified species of insects on the flowers of G. hirsutum,
after two years of observations A. m. adansonii shown at first with 32.10% and 40.99% of visits in 2010
and 2011 respectively. This bee gathering pollen flowers almost throughout the day, with a peak
between 6 am and 7am. Its visits are a very good pollen and nectar harvest. The largest number of
workers simultaneously active is one per flower and 514.10 per 1000 flowers. The average duration of a
visit is 5.32 ± 2.93 seconds per flower. The average speed of foraging is 17.56 ± 6.69 flowers per minute.
By comparing the yields of those flowers free flowers isolated insects, it increase the rate of fruiting
31.86 and 28.72% , the percentage of normal seeds 43.29, 38.37% respectively in 2010 and 2011 due to
insects including A. m. adansonii. This improved performance is justified by the positive action of these
arthropods on the pollination of flowers visit. Via its effectiveness pollination, A. m. adansonii caused a
significant increase in the rate of fruiting and 38.00, 33.00% in the percentage of normal seeds 26.22,
23.65% respectively in 2010 and 2011. The installation of beehives in Cotton plantations is
recommended to increase the production of this species.
Keywords: Apis mellifera adansonii, Gossypium hirsutum, flower, pollen, pollination
INTRODUCTION
Reproduction depends on pollination (McGregor, 1976).
This pollinated by several agents including insects
occupy a prominent place (McGregor 1976, Faegri and
Pijl 1979, Pesson and Louveaux 1984, Philippe 1991,
Tchuenguem Fohouo et al., 2007, 2008 and 2009). In the
natural environment and in agro ecosystems, flowerfeeding
insects in general and in particular Apoidea have
great ecological and economic importance because they
*Corresponding author’s Email: dounia31@yahoo.fr
influence positively on food production (Mutsaers 1991,
Desquesne 1996, Morison and al., 2000a, Tchuenguem
Fohouo et al., 2002). Effective pollination by insects can
increase fruit yield and quality of grain (Philippe 1991,
Vaissière and Izard 1995, Segeren et al., 1996, Morison
et al., 2000a). The lack of pollinating insects in flowering
time can lead to kidney yields fruits and / or seeds for
some crops (McGregor, 1976; Delbrassine and Rasmont
1988, Tchuenguem Fohouo et al., 2009).
The former cotton is perennial (Lagière 1966, David
1971, Ahmed et al., 1989, Philippe 1991), but those
grown today are annual (Fryxell 1979b, 1992, Selanan et
al., 1999, Brubaker et al., 1999a, Brubaker et al., 1999b),

34 Int. Res. J. Plant Sci.
from Nord and Central America (Jakins, 2003), it
domesticated by pre-Columbia people of Yacatan
peninsula (Brubaker and Wendel,1994), heliophilous
whose development cycle is seven months (Lagière
1966, David 1971, Ahmed et al., 1989, Philippe 1991,
Sassenrath-Cole 1995, Wise et al., 2000). It grows on a
wide variety of soils (Jenkins 2003) provided; they are
well drained (Lagière 1966, David 1971, Cotton Australia
2005). The cotton grown in Cameroon belongs to the
species of Gossypium hirsutum (Lagière 1966, David
1971). It is kind of shrub and woody with an average
height of less than 1.5 m (David 1971, Ooterhuis and
Jerntedt 1999, Ritchie et al., 2007). This Malvaceae
consists of vegetative branches and fruiting branches
called sympodes (Lagière 1966, David 1971, Ooterhuis
and Jerntedt 1999, Ritchie et al., 2007). these branches
carry three to eight flowers with five petals white or yellow
orange (Lagière 1966, David 1971). The flower of G.
hirsutum is hermaphrodite (McGregor 1976) with a
fundamentally system of autogamous reproduction
(McGregor 1976, Moffett 1983), the flowers attract highly
insects (Green and Jones 1953) where susceptibility to
cross-pollination by insects is provided (Green and Jones
1953, Oosterhuis and Jernstedt 1999). The fruit is a boll
shaped ovoid or spherical (Lagière 1966, David 1971,
Philippe 1991, Ritchie et al., 2007) containing 29 to 40
grains (Eastick, 2002, Yasuor et al ., 2007) of cotton
fibers are a very important raw material for the textile
industry, as they used in the manufacture of clothing
seeds are rich in oil and food products such as meal
looking for feed (Lagière 1966, David 1971, Cherry and
Lefflter 1984, Philippe 1991). World production in total
are more than 24.5 million tons of which 40% is produced
by the USA, 3rd in Cameroon African Cotton producer
with more than 240 000 tons of seed cotton. Demand for
cotton seed is estimated at over 250 000 tons (MINADER
2010).
The entomofauna floriculture G. hirsutum is very little
studied. The few studies obtained in the literature review
have been out of Cameroon were particularly in Sudan by
Ahmed et al., (1989), Russia (McGregor, 1976), in
Australia (Thomson 1966, Mungomery and Glassop
1969, Richards et al., 2005) in USA by (McGregor 1976,
Umbeck et al., 1987, Van Deynze et al., 2005, Llewellyn
et al., 2007). However, according Roubik (2000),
Tchuenguem (2005) and Gallai et al., (2009), floriculture
entomofauna of a plant species varies from one region to
another. This work was conducted to study the activity of
A. m. adansonii on the flowers of G. hirsutum to assess
the effectiveness of bee pollination that yields this
Malvaceae. A preliminary study on the relationship insect
flowers in Maroua before 2010 (unpublished data)
showed that A. m. adansonii intensely visit the flowers of
G. hirsutum. This insect can be used to pollinate the plant
(Philippe 1991).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Site and biological materials
The studies were conducted from August to October in
2010 and 2011 respectively in the locality of Mayel-Ibbé
(Latitude 10 ° 62 'N, Longitude 14 ° 33' E and altitude 400
m), region of the Far North Cameroon. This region
belongs to the ecological zone three phytogeographical
areas: Sahel-Sudanian, Sahelian and Sudanian altitude
periodically flooded, with unimodal rainfall (Letouzey
1985). It has a Sahel-Sudanian type of climate,
characterized by the existence of two annual seasons: a
long dry season (November to May) and a short rainy
season (June to October); August is the wettest month of
the year (Kuete et al., 1993). Annual rainfall varies from
400 to 1100 mm (Kuete et al., 1993). The annual average
temperature varies between 29 and 38° C and a daily
temperature range between 6 and 7°C (Kuete et al.,
1993). The experimental plot is an area of 440 m 2 . The
animal material was represented by insects naturally
present in the environment and a colony of Apis mellifera
adansonii Latreilles (Hymenoptera: Apidae), housed in a
tree located 900 m from the experimental plot. Vegetation
was represented by wild species and cultivated plants.
The plant material was represented by the seeds of G.
hirsutum provided by SODECOTON.
Planting and maintenance of culture
On May 31 st , 2010 and 2011, the experimental plots
having been previously plowed and divided into six sub -
plots of 6.5 x 5 m 2 each, with a row of two meters
between the left and subplots to turn around the field.
This field has received seedlings of 6 lines per sub - plot.
The seeds are sown in holes at the rate of 10 grains per
hill. The spacing is 25 cm rows and 80 cm between rows
and 4 cm depth (Lagière 1966, David 1971, Cotton
Australia 2002, MINADER 2010). Two weeks after
germination (occurred July 17, 2010 and July 24, 2011),
the plants were thinned leaving the foot stronger.
Thinning of the opening of the first flower, which occurred
August 6, 2010 and August 16, 2011, weeding was done
with a hoe every three weeks. Manual weeding is
performed regularly at the beginning of flowering until
harvest, which ended November 28, 2010 for the first
growing season and December 05, 2011 for the second
growing season.
Determining the mode of reproduction
July 29, 2010 and August 30, 2011, 200 flowers in bud
were labeled 100 feet G. hirsutum for each period and

Dounia et al. 35
Table 1. Diversity of floral insects on G. hirsutum flowers in 2010 and 2011, number and percentage of visits of
different insects
Insects 2010 2011
Genus, species, Sub -
Order Family species n1 p1% n2 p2%
Hymenoptera Apidae Apis mellifera adansonii NP 183 31,2 264 40,99
Allodap sp. P 18 3,07 7 1,09
Amegilla sp. 1 P 15 2,56 11 1,71
Amegilla sp. 2 P 7 1,19 27 4,19
Thyrus sp. P 7 1,19 1 0,16
Xylocopa sp. 1 P 35 5,96 31 4,81
Xylocopa sp. 2 P 17 2,9 2 0,31
Formicidae Polyrachis sp. 1 P 13 2,21 26 4,04
Halictidae Lipotriches collaris P 37 6,3 31 4,81
Macronomia vulpina P 44 7,5 42 6,52
Megachilidae Chalicodoma sp.1 P 11 1,87 7 1,09
Chalicodoma sp.2 P 2 0,34 0 0,00
Creightonella sp. P 1 0,17 0 0,00
Megachile sp. 1 P 3 0,51 1 0,16
Megachile sp. 2 P 6 1,02 2 0,31
Megachile sp. 3 P 7 1,19 0 0,00
Sphecidae Philanthus triangulum Pr 9 1,53 4 0,62
(1sp.) Pr 1 0,17 0 0,00
Vespidae Synagris cornuta N 3 0,51 5 0,78
(1sp.) N 4 0,68 1 0,16
Eumenidae Delta sp. N 1 0,17 3 0,47
Diptera Calliphoridae (sp. 1) P 13 2,21 8 1,24
(sp. 2) P 9 1,53 3 0,47
Stratiomyiidae Hermetia sp. P 3 0,51 1 0,16
Syrphidae (1sp.) P 4 0,68 1 0,16
Coleoptera Scarabeidae (sp. 1) P 34 5,79 41 6,37
(sp. 2) P 7 1,19 4 0,62
Meloidae Coryna sp. P 2 0,34 1 0,16
Hemiptera Coreidae Anoplocnemis curvipes P 12 2,04 9 1,40
Pyrrhocoridae Dysdercus voelkeri P 7 1,19 6 0,93
Lepidoptera Acraeidae Acraea acerata N 33 5,62 52 8,07
Nymphalidae (1sp.) N 12 2,04 3 0,47
Pieridae Catopsilia florella N 8 1,36 11 1,71
Pieridae (sp. 1) N 2 0,34 3 0,47
Pieridae (sp. 2) N 2 0,34 7 1,09
Orthroptera (1sp.) p 6 1,02 9 1,40
(2sp.) p 4 0,68 13 2,02
Dythioptera Mantodae (sp.1) Pr 0 0 2 0,31
Nevroptera (sp.1) Pr 5 0,85 3 0,47
(sp. 2) Pr 0 0 2 0,31
Total 40 species 587 100 644 100
Comparison of percentages of Apis mellifera adansonii visits for two years: χ 2 = 18.80 ([ddl = 1; P < 0.001]).
n1: number of visits on 100 flowers in 10 days.
n2: number of visits on 100 flowers in 10 days.
p1 et p2: percentages of visits.
p1 = (n1 / 587) x 100.
p2= (n2 / 644) x 100.
NP: Visitor collected nectar and pollen.
N: Visitor collected nectar.
P: Visitor collected pollen.
Pr: Predation.
1 sp.: Undetermined species.

36 Int. Res. J. Plant Sci.
Figure 1. Plant Gossypium hirsutum showing a
flower isolated insects.
made two treatments. Treatments 1 and 3 consist of 100
flowers and each free treatment 2 and 4 made of 100
flowers each protected gently with gauze cloth bags
(Figure 1). For each year, ten days after the wilting of the
last flower, the number of boll formed in each treatment
was counted. For each treatment, the index of fruiting (Ifr)
is calculated using the following formula: Ifr = ( F1/F2 ),
where F1 is the number of boll formed and the number of
flowers F2 initially labeled (Tchuenguem et al., 2004).
The out crossing rate (TC) was calculated using the
formula : TC={[(IfrX - IfrY/IfrX]x100},
Where IfrX and IfrY indices are fruiting means the
free treatment and treatment protected respectively
(Demarly, 1977). The rate of self-pollination in the broad
sense (TA) was calculated using the formula:
TA = (100 - TC).
Study of the activity of insects on the flowers of G.
Hirsutum
On September 02, 2010, 200 flowers of G. hirsutum the
bud stage have been labeled and two treatments:
Treatment 1 consisted of 100 unprotected flowers,
treatment 2 consisting of 100 protected flowers gently
with cloth bags of gauze. On September 07, 2011, 200
flowers of G. hirsutum at bud stage were marked and
made 2 treatments: Treatment 3 consisted of 100 flowers
free; treatment 4 consists of 100 protected flowers gently
with gauze cloth bags. The observations were made
every two days, according to six slots: 7-8 h, 9-10 h, 11-
12 h, 13-14 h, 15-16 h and 17 - 18h. September 3 to 23,
2010 and from September 7 to 27, 2011, the periods
labeled blooming flowers. The insects found on flowers
are counted at each daily time. The data obtained were
used to determine the frequency of (Fx) visits A. m.
adansonii on flowers of G. hirsutum. For each year of
study, Fx = [(Vx / Vi) x 100], Vx is the number of visits to
A. m. adansonii on flowers free treatment (treatments 1
and 3) and Vi visits all these insects on flowers.
The floral products (nectar and / or pollen) collected
by the bee were recorded for the same dates and time
slots that count insects. The study of this parameter
indicates whether A. m. adansonii is strictly Pollinivorous,
or nectarivore Pollinivorous and nectarivore. This can
give an idea about his involvement in the pollination of
this plant. The duration of visits and foraging speed
(number of flowers visited per minute) (Tchuenguem et
al., 2004) were timed to the same dates and in six time
slots. Abundances (larger numbers of individuals
simultaneously active) per flower and flower 1000
(A1000) were recorded on the same dates and time slots
that the registration of the duration of visits. The first
parameter was recorded as a result of direct counts. By
1000 for plenty flowers, A. m. adansonii were counted on
a known number of open flowers; A1000 = [(Ax / Fx) x
1000], where Fx and Ax are respectively the number of
flowers and the number of A. m. adansonii actually
counted on Fx (Tchuenguem et al., 2004).
The influence of the surrounding flora was assessed
by direct observation: the number of times the bee went
of G. hirsutum flowers of another plant species and vice
versa was noted throughout the period of investigation.
Measuring the temperature and humidity of the
experimental site
During the days of investigation, the temperature and
humidity of the study site were recorded every 30 min, 7-

-18 h, using a thermo hygrometer installed in the shade.
Evaluation of the impact of flower-feeding insects on
the yield of G. hirsutum
A boll maturity, harvesting is done in 1-4 treatments. For
each year of study, the digital input (Pf) of insects fruiting
is Pf = {[(fx-fy) / fx] x 100}, where fx and fy are the fruiting
rate in treatments x (treatments 1 and 3) and y
(treatments 2 and 4). For treatment, the rate of fruiting
(Tfr) is Tfr = [(number of boll / number of flowers) x 100].
The digital input (Pf) insects (Pg) the number of seeds is
Pg = {[(gx-gy) / gx]} x 100 where gx and gy are the
average number of seeds per pod in treatments x and y.
The digital input (Pgn) insects in grain is normal Pgn =
{[(gnx-gny) / gnx]} x 100 where gnx and gny are the
percentages of normal seed treatments in x and y.
Measuring the effectiveness of pollination A. m.
adansonii on G. Hirsutum
Along with the development of treatments 1 and 2,
treatment 5 is formed of 100 flowers isolated and labeled
as those of treatment 2. Along with the development of
treatments 3 and 4, the treatment 6 consists of 100
flowers isolated and labeled as those of treatment 4.
Between 7- 9 am, the gauze fabric is gently removed
from each newly bloomed flower and observed during a
recent twenty minutes. Flowers visited by A. m. adansonii
are marked and open flowers visited but not being
eliminated as a result of the study. After this
manipulation, the flowers are protected again.
A boll maturity, harvesting is done in treatments 5 and 6.
For each year of study, the digital input (Pfx) of A. m.
adansonii during fruiting is Pfx = {[(fz-fy) / fz] × 100},
where fz and fy are the fruiting rate in treatment z
(protected flowers and visited exclusively by A. m.
adansonii) and y (protected flowers) (Tchuenguem et al.,
2004). The digital input (PGX) of A. m. adansonii the
number of seeds is PGX = {[(gz-gy) / gz]} x 100 where gz
and gy are the average number of seeds per boll in
treatments z and y (Tchuenguem et al., 2004). The digital
input (PGNX) of A. m. adansonii to seed formation is
normal PGNX = {[(GNZ-gny) / GNZ]} x 100 where gnz
and gny are the percentages of normal seeds in
treatments z and y (Tchuenguem et al., 2004).
Data analysis
SPSS software and Microsoft Excel were used for three
tests: Student's (t) for comparison of means, correlation
coefficient (r) for the study of linear relationship between
two variables, Chi-square (χ2) for the comparison of
percentages.
RESULTS
Reproductive system
Dounia et al. 37
The index of average boll was 0.91, 0.62, 0.94 and 0.67
in treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively in 2010, the
allogamy rate is 31.87% and the rate of autogamy is
68.13%. In 2011, the corresponding figures are 28.72
and 71.28% rate respectively for allogamy and autogamy.
It appears that G. hirsutum has a mixed mating system
autogamous-allogamous, predominantly allogamy.
Activity A. m. adansonii on the flowers of G. hirsutum
Seasonal frequency of visits
For 21 and 23 days flowering periods in 2010 and 2011,
587 and 644 visits to 38 and 36 species of insects were
counted on 100 and 100 flowers of G. hirsutum
respectively in 2010 and 2011 A. m. adansonii comes
with 183 and 264 visits spread over all periods of
flowering is 31.17 and 40.99% of all visits recorded in
2010 and 2011 respectively, ranked first in whatever year
investigation (Table 1). The difference between these two
percentages is highly significant (χ2 = 12.80 [df = 1, P

38 Int. Res. J. Plant Sci.
Figure 2. Distribution of visits A. m. adansonii on the flowers of G. hirsutum according to
daily time in 2010, 2011.
(philanthus triangulum) the Nevroptera (sp.1 and sp.2)
and Mantodae (sp.1).
Floral substances taken
During each period of flowering of G. hirsutum, A. m.
adansonii harvest exclusively and regularly pollen (Figure
3). The exclusive collection of nectar (Figure 4) and
simultaneous harvest nectar and pollen during a foraging
trip were less frequent (Table 2).
Rate of visits according to the stages of flowering
Overall, visits to A. m. adansonii were more numerous on
treatments 1 and 3 that the number of open flowers was
high (Figures 5). The correlation between the number of
visits to A. m. adansonii was positive and very highly
significant both in 2010 (r = 0.80 [df = 8, P

Figure 3. A. m. adansonii collecting
pollen of G. hirsutum
Figure 4. A. m. adansonii collecting nectar of G.
hirsutum
Table 2. Products harvested by A. m. adansonii on flowers of G. hirsutum in 2010 and 2011.
year
Number of
visits studies
Visits for pollen
harvest
Visits for nectar
harvest
Visits for pollen and nectar
harvest
Number % Number % Number %
2010 183 115 62,84 32 17,48 36 19,67
2011 264 197 74,62 67 25,37 0 0
Jathropha gossipiifolia (Euphorbiaceae, N), Striga
hermonthica (Scrophulariaceae, N), Hibiscus asper
(Malvaceae, N/P), Sesamum indicum (Pedaliaceae, N),
Sorghum bicolor (Poaceae, P). During foraging trips in
2010 of 183 visits, only 13 or 7.10% passage A. m.
adansonii of any of these plants at a level of G. hirsutum
was observed. In 2011, the corresponding values were
264 visits, 24 or 9.09%.
Daily rate of visits
A. m. Adansonii has been active on the flowers of G.
hirsutum 6 h to 18 h, with a peak of visits between 6 and
Dounia et al. 39
7 h in 2010 and 2011. Strong winds disrupted visits A. m.
adansonii on the flowers of G. hirsutum. Thus, of the 183
visits recorded, 7 (3.82%) in 2010 and recorded 264 visits
to 11 (4.14%) were interrupted by such winds. Climatic
conditions have influenced the activity of A. m. adansonii
on the flowers of G. hirsutum in field conditions (Table 3).
The correlation was negative and significant relationship
between the number of visits of A. m. adansonii on the
flowers of G. hirsutum and temperature in 2010 (r = -0.78
[df = 4, P

40 Int. Res. J. Plant Sci.
Table 3. Daily distribution of A. m. adansonii visits on 100 G. hirsutum flowers over 10 days of observation in 2010 and 2011
respectively, mean temperature and mean humidity of the study site
Daily period (hours)
year Parameter registered 6-7 8-9 10-11 12-13 14-15 16-17
Number of visits 61 43 26 9 12 26
2010 Temperature (°c) 29,12 31,95 34,5 37,54 36,14 34,52
Hygrometry (%) 72,4 63,8 59,2 52,4 46,9 48,8
Number of visits 103 77 56 9 7 12
2011 Temperature (°c) 27,2 31,4 34,06 37,21 35,9 34,34
Hygrometry (%) 71,8 63,8 59,79 52,9 47,2 49,11
2010: for temperature et hygrometry, each figure represents the mean of 50 observations.
2011: for temperature et hygrometry, each figure represents the mean of 50 observations.
Figure 5. Variation of number of flowers and number of visits of A. m. adansonii, on the
flowers G. hirsutum in 2010 ; 2011.
Figure 6. Mean daily of temperature and humidity and mean number of visits of A. m.
adansonii, on the flowers of G. hirsutum in 2010, 2011.

Value beekeeping G. hirsutum
During the rainy season in Maroua, we noted an activity
developed in workers of A. m. adansonii on G. hirsutum
flowers. In particular, there was very good harvest pollen,
low harvest nectar foragers and fidelity to flowers G.
hirsutum. These data highlight the attractiveness of
pollen and nectar of that Malvaceae vis-à-vis A. m.
adansonii. They allow you to place G. hirsutum plants
from beekeeping strongly and weakly Pollinivorous plant.
Impact of flower-feeding insects in pollination and
yields G. hirsutum
During pollen and/or nectar harvest, flower-feeding
insects of G. hirsutum are in regular contact with the
anthers and stigma (Figure 3). These flower-feeding
insects therefore increase the possibilities of this
Malvaceae pollination. Table 4 presents the results on
the rate of fruit, number of seeds per pod and percentage
of normal seeds in different treatments, It is clear from
this table that:
a) Comparison of rates of fruiting shows that the
differences are very highly significant between treatments
1 and 2 (χ2 = 23.39 [df = 1, P

42 Int. Res. J. Plant Sci.
Table 4. G. hirsutum yields under pollination treatments.
Seeds / boll
%
Fruiting
Total Normal normal
Treatment year Flowers boll rate Mean sd Seeds Seeds seeds.
Unlimited visits 2010 100 91 91,00 31,16 10,43 3116 2878 92,36
Bagged flowers 2010 100 62 62,00 17,67 14,39 1767 1229 69,55
Unlimited visits 2011 100 94 94,00 32,68 9,68 3268 2959 90,54
Bagged flowers 2011 100 67 67,00 20,14 15,09 2014 1450 71,99
A. m. adansonii 2010 30 30 100 34,9 2,35 1087 987 94,26
A. m. adansonii 2011 30 30 100 36,9 3,78 1107 1044 94,3
flowers of G. hirsutum in West Africa (Ahmend et al,
1989), Australia (Thomson, 1966; Mungomery and
Glossop 1969), India, Russia (McGregor, 1976). A. m.
adansonii have been reported as the main floral visitor of
the crop. The significant difference between the
percentage visits of A. m. adansonii within studied years
could be attributed to the experimental site variation in
2010 and 2011. The insect fauna of floriculture plant
varies over time (Moffett et al., 1975; Elfawal et al., 1976,
Moffet et al., 1976; Tchuenguem Fohouo, 2005).
The activity peak of A. m. adansonii on the flowers of was
in the morning, which correlated to the period of this
attractiveness is high due to the fact that pollen is
produced in large quantities or 20,000 pollen grains per
flower (Ter Avanesian, 1978) and is easily accessible to
insects (Green and Jones, 1953; McGregor, 1976;
Oosterhuis and Jonestedt 1999), because the flower has
a large diameter (5-9 cm) (Ter Avanesian 1978, Maffett
1983),
However, this decreased activity at 11.00 to 13.00 h
could be related to increased temperature in the
experimental field. Although, foragers preferred warm or
sunny days for good floral activity (Kasper et al., 2008),
the enhanced temperature positively influenced the insect
activity on foraged flowers. Similarly, rainfall has been
documented as an environmental factor that can disrupt
the floral insect activity (McGregor, 1976).
The abundance of A. m. adansonii foragers on 1000
flowers and the positive and highly significant correlation
between the number of G. hirsutum flowers at bloom, as
well as, the number of A. m. adansonii visits indicates the
attractiveness of G. hirsutum pollen with respect to this
bee. In fact, weather during bloom was demonstrated to
affect the abundance and foraging of pollinator insects
(Bramel et al., 2004, Julianna and Rufus, 2010). Among
the 40 insect species visiting G. hirsutum flowers, A. m.
adansonii was the most abundant (36.85%), followed by
Lipotriches collaris (5.55%).
The significant difference between the duration of
visits in 2010 and 2011 could be attributed to the
availability of floral products or the variation of diversity of
flowering insects from one year to another. During each
of the two flowering periods of G. hirsutum, A. m.
adansonii intensely and regularly harvested pollen. This
could be attributed to the needs of individuals at flowering
period. The disruptions of visits by other insects reduced
the time frame visits of certain A. m. adansonii. This
obliged some carpenter bees to visit more flowers for a
foraging trip in order to maximize their pollen loads.
Similar observations were made for A. mellifera adansonii
workers foraging on Entada africana (Fabaceae) flowers,
P. guajava (Myrtaceae) flowers (Tchuenguem et al.,
2007), Croton macrostachyus (Euphorbiaceae) flowers,
Syzygium guineense var. guineense (Myrtaceae) flowers
(Tchuenguem et al., 2008a), Persea americana
(Lauraceae) flowers, Vitellaria paradoxa (Sapotaceae)
flowers (Tchuenguem et al., 2008b), V. unguiculata (L.)
(Fabaceae) flowers (Tchuenguem et al., 2009b),
Combretum nigricans, Erythrina sigmoidea, Lannea
kerstingii, Vernonia amygdalina flowers (Tchuenguem et
al., 2010) and for Chalicodoma cincta (Hymenoptera:
Megachilidae) foraging on C. cajan (Fabaceae) flowers
(Pando et al., 2011b) Xylocopa olivacea workers foraging
P. vulgaris flowers (Kingha et al., 2012), Xylocopa calens
on the flowers of P. coccineus (Pando et al 2011a).
The bee foragers had a high affinity with respect to
G. hirsutum when compared to the neighboring plant
species, indicating their faithfulness to this Malvaceae, a
phenomenon known as “floral constancy” (Louveaux,
1984; Backhaus, 1993; Basualdo et al., 2000). Flower
constancy is an important aspect in the management of
pollination. For this research, it indicates that A. m.
adansonii can provide benefits to pollination management
of G. hirsutum.
During the collection of pollen on each flower, A. m.
adansonii foragers regularly come into contact with the
stigma. They were also able to carry pollen with their
hairs, legs and mouth accessories from a flower of one
plant to stigma of another flower of the same plant
(geitonogamy), to the same flower (autogamy) or to that
of another plant (xenogamy). The workers can be
deposited on the stigma is positively influence and selfpollination
and cross-pollination (Moffett et al., 1975; Rao
et al., 1969).
The significant contribution of A. m. adansonii in boll
and seed yield of G. hirsutum is in agreement with similar
findings in Australia (Llewellyn et al 2007) and United
State of America (Vam Deynze et al 2005).

This Higher productivity of boll and seeds in unlimited
visits when compared with bagged flowers showed that
insect visits were effective in increasing cross-pollination.
Our results confirmed those of Llewellyn et al. (2007),
Vam Deynze et al. (2005) and Xanthopulos and Kechagia
(2005) who revealed that G. hirsutum flowers set little
pods in the absence of insect pollinators. Similar
experiments in England (Free, 1966) and in Brazil (Free,
1993) have shown that pollination by insects was not
always needed. Darwin (1876) showed that selfpollination
of P. vulgaris flowers produced as many bolls
and seeds as exposed plants. Thus, pollination
requirements may different between plant varieties.
CONCLUSION
This study reveals that G. hirsutum outlets is a highly
polliniferous bee plant that obtained benefits from the
pollination by insects among which A. m. adansonii is of
great importance. The comparison of boll and seeds set
of unprotected flowers with that of flowers visited
exclusively by A. m. adansonii underscores the value of
this bee in increasing pods and seed yields as well as
seed quality. The installation of X. A. m. adansonii hive at
the proximity of G. hirsutum fields should be
recommended for the increase of boll and seed yields of
this valuable crop.
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