Identification and Characterization of Honeybee Flora in Western Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was conducted in nine sample districts of western Amhara region to identify major and minor honeybee plant species in each season of the year and to develop floral calendar. Based on the interview with beekeeper farmers and visual observations, 290 important plant species which clustered in 105 families were recorded. Out of these Guizotia species, Bidens species, Trifolium species, Eucalyptus species, Cordia africana, Acacia species, Croton macrostachyus, Vernonia species, Brassica carinata, and Andropogon abysssinicus were among the most abundant species accounting for 23.1% of the species frequency in the study areas. Moreover, four main flowering seasons followed by two distinct honey flow seasons were identified. Majority of honeybee plants (41.7%) were predominantly flower after the big rainy season while 5.2% flower during the small rainy season. About forty honeybee plants (13.8%) flower in extended period, and there were 15 honeybee plants (5.2%) which provide pollen and nectar throughout the year. Based on available flora, utility status and flowering duration a bee floral calendar was developed for the region. However, very important herbaceous honey plants such as Bidens species, Guizotia scabra, Trifolium species, and trees like Cordia africana, Albizia gummifera, Ekebergia capensis, and Erica arborea are in the state of declining due to herbicides application, intensive cultivation, overgrazing and deforestation. Thus, in order to conserve these floras, attention must be made to maintain and multiply these endangered bee floras. It is also recommended that conservation of honey plant species and management of colonies should be in relation to flowering period of honey plants. Keywords: China insurance industry, Foreign fund, Challenge