Diversity and Abundance of Bee Flower Visitors of Beans in Borabu Sub-County, Western Kenya

Abstract

Globally bees form the main animal pollinators of most crops. Most agricultural crops rely on pollinators, particularly bees for pollination services. Smallholder farmers in Africa commonly use maize/bean intercropping in order to achieve the optimum yields hence providing them with significant food security and economic impacts. Declining of bee colonies due to anthropogenic factors has led to declines in food production in the world. Yet little is known about crop pollination in African countries. In Kenya pollination studies are still scanty, lack harmonisation and only a few crops have been studied. It is against this background that the study was chosen. One administrative sub location was purposively selected. Three plots were selected at equal 1km distance along atransect laid in that sub location. Sampling of 3 plots each of 100m x 100 m was established along transects. Bee sampling was done for 3 months using a sweep net and a bowl trap to collect bees. Diversity was computed using Shannon’s diversity index while abundance was recorded using abundance curves. A total of 992 bee visitors from 2 families and 9 species were collected from the three study farms. High diversity and abundance of bees was recorded. Therefore, farmers, extension workers and other stakeholders should be sensitized and trained on the importance of bee pollination and its contribution to their welfare and on utilization of cost-effective strategies for bee conservation. Key words: Diversity, Abundance, Pollination, Apis, Nyansiongo