Plant Species as Potential Forage for Honey Bees in the Al-Baha Mountain Region in Southwestern Saudi Arabia.

ABSTRACT: The contribution of bee forages in the form of nectar, pollen, and propolis to beekeeping development depends on plant species diversity. The data concerning the increase in honey production in southwestern Saudi Arabia, which was unexpected with the deterioration of the vegetation cover, becomes a concrete background for this study, which planned to list the bee plant species contributing as sources of nectar, pollen, and propolis. The sampling method followed a purposive random sampling approach, and 20 × 20 m plots were considered with a total of 450 sample plots. Bee forage plants were identified based on flower morphology and honey bees' actions during floral visits at active foraging hours. A checklist of bee forages containing 268 plants species belonging to 62 families was document

SUBMITTER: Al-Ghamdi AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10058344 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature