A Comprehensive Inventory of Wild Bees in Tlemcen (North-West of Algeria)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46325/gabj.v8i2.408Keywords:
Mountains of Tlemcen, Apoidea, inventory, natural ecosystems, plants, pollination, beesAbstract
This study is among the first monographs on Algerian apoid fauna. Conducted from March 2022 to June 2022, it involves inventorying wild bees across three stations in the Tlemcen Mountains along an altitude gradient. An exhaustive list of 70 species was compiled, with the Apidae family containing 9 species. Apis mellifera was the most prevalent, comprising 33.43% of the population, followed by Bombus terrestris (20%), Xylocopa pubescens (17.14%), Xylocopa violacea (15.71%), Anthophora vestita (7.14%), Eucera notata and Eucera colaris (2.86%), and Eucera punctatissima and Eucera nigrilabris (1.43%). New apoid fauna species discovered in the Tlemcen Mountains include members of the Andrenidae family (Andrena flavipes, Andrena nigroanea), the Megachilidae family (Hoplitlis sp.), and other Vespoidea species such as Vespula vulgaris and Dasyscolia ciliata. Studies on the diversity and structure of bee populations indicated significant diversity, illustrated by the Shannon-Weaver diversity index, with the highest value of 2.65 recorded in Beni Snous. Additionally, it was observed that most species were well represented in May and June, with a notable shortage in March and April due to drought and a delayed spring. The relationships between plants and bees were examined by studying the plants visited during the flowering season. The chi-square test revealed a significant and medium correlation between bees and regions, and a significant and very strong correlation between plants and bees. The results underscore the richness of Apoids in the area and highlight the necessity of their protection, given their critical role in pollination and maintaining biodiversity in natural ecosystems and agrocenoses.
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