Identification, characterization and mapping of honey bee flora of Al-Baha region of Saudi Arabia

Aim: The study aimed to identify and document major honey bee flora, their blooming seasons(floral calendar), density and frequency, beekeeping potential areas, and place radius for the major bee flora of the Al-Baha region. Methodology: To identify the honey bee flora of al-Baha region, 420 quadrates were established in different seasons and ecological zones. Plants as honey bee forages were identified through observation of the foraging of honey bees on the flowers for nectar or/and pollen. The density and frequency of each plant was calculated, density and radius maps for major honey bee plants were made using the Arc- Map. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was carried out for major honey bee plants using MVSP software. Results: The results showed that more than 550 species of flowering plants were recorded in the study areas, of which 204 plant species belonging to 58 families were identified as honey bee plants. However, only 9 species were found to be an important source of major honeys in the region. The largest number (13%) of honey bee plants was recorded for the family Asteraceae, followed by Lamiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae and Mimosaceae each with 13 (6.4%), 11 (5.4%), 11 (5.4%) and 10 (4.9%) plants, respectively. Each of the remaining families had 1 to 8 species. Interpretation: The radius maps, as well as the blooming periods of honey bee flora will guide beekeepers to move their colonies during the peak flowering periods.