Pollination efficiency of Apis mellifera Linnaeus 1758 (Hymenoptera, Apidae) on Mimosa pudica Linnaeus 1753 (Fabaceae) inflorescences at Yassa (Douala - Cameroon)
Taimanga and Fernand-Nestor Tchuenguem Fohouo
To evaluate impact of Apis mellifera workers, on pod and seed set of Mimosa pudica, its foraging and pollinating activities were studied in Douala, for two seasons (May-June 2014 and 2015). Two treatments, differentiated according to inflorescences were protected from insects activities or not. The pollination and behavior of foragers were studied. Individuals from 13 species of insects were recorded visiting M. pudica inflorescences. Xylocopa torrida was the most frequent followed by Apis mellifera. This honey bee intensely and exclusively foraged for pollen. Results show that A. mellifera foraging result the number of fruit per inflorescence by 10.04 % and 4.31 %, the number of seeds per fruit by 2.92 % and 4.57 % and the increase of the percentage of the normal seeds by 10.03 % and 4.30 % respectively in 2014 and 2015. Conservation of A. mellifera nests close to M. pudica plants could be recommended to improve pods and seeds production.