Assessment of Two Plant-Based Materials as Alternative Attractant of Honeybees (Apis Mellifera adansonii) for Production of Honey and Other Hive Products in Awka, Nigeria

Aim: Honey is the earliest sweetener human beings have found. The values of honey are too numerous, such as food source, raw material for industries and as symbol employed in therapeutic ceremonies, but it’s availability and supply through traditional honey hunting remain a major constraint to its production and supply. This Field trials assessed the efficacy of Aidan fruit (Tetrapleura tetraptera) extract and Pineapple juice as alternative baits of honeybees (Apis mellifera adansonii) for the production of honey and other hive products.

Study Design: Completely Randomized Design.

Place and Duration of Study: Honeybee Research Centre of the Department of Zoology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P.M.B.5025, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria, between July 2020 and February, 2022.

Methodology: Phytochemical analyses of the two plant-based materials were conducted in the laboratory using standard scientific methods. A total of 9 hives divided into 3 treatment groups: A1-3; P1-3 and H1-3 were used for the study. All the experimental hives were installed at the apiary unit of the HRC and monitored daily until colonization occurred.

Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) while sample means were separated using Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at 5% significant level (P = 0.05).

Results: The results revealed that the trial baits contained moderate (++) presence of terpenoids as phytochemical component responsible for attracting bees. The results revealed also that the hives treated with the trial baits recorded equal rates of colonization of 66.67% as against the control which recorded 100% respectively.

Conclusion: The results suggest that these two plant-based materials can serve as alternative attractants of honeybees in beekeeping for the production of honey and other hive products.