Moringa Oleifera: Register Of Floral Visitors And Beekeeping Potential
The objective was to verify the relationships between moringa (Moringa oleifera) and its floral visitors, identifying the possible pollinating agents and their potential as a beekeeping plant. Observations were carried out from May to June 2002 and 2006, in populations existing in experimental areas of Embrapa Semiárido. For observations of morphology, floral biology and visitors, 100 marked floral buds were used in 10 plants at random. The flowers of this plant gather in panicle-like inflorescences and can open throughout the day, whose flower life span is approximately 100 hours.
Among the floral visitors, the following were observed: Hymenoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and hummingbirds, totaling 25 species. Among the Hymenoptera, bees stood out, (99.3% of total visits). Throughout the day, the flowers of M. oleifera received more than 600 visits/hour, indicating that the plant can be considered a constant source of nectar, especially in the Caatinga where there is seasonality in the supply of resources. According to the frequency and visiting behavior, the bees Apis mellifera and Xylocopa frontalis, the wasp Anoplius marginalis and the hummingbird Chlorostilbon aureoventris were considered as potential pollinators of this species.
The other visitors were considered nectar thieves or looters. the wasp Anoplius marginalis and the hummingbird Chlorostilbon aureoventris were considered as potential pollinators of this species. The other visitors were considered nectar thieves or looters. the wasp Anoplius marginalis and the hummingbird Chlorostilbon aureoventris were considered as potential pollinators of this species. The other visitors were considered nectar thieves or looters.
