Abstract

Since 2010, cashew nuts have become Côte d'Ivoire's third-largest agricultural export. However, the yield of 300 to 500 kg/ha recorded is still low, compared with the 2000 to 60,000 kg/ha recorded in India. The aim of this study was to identify the bee species visiting cashew inflorescences and likely to be involved in pollination. The study was carried out in the Bagoué region of northern Côte d'Ivoire. Bees were collected from 15 orchards of the same age in the Bagoué region in northern Côte d'Ivoire. The presence of bees on the flowers (daily activity) was measured from 5 h to 19 h per hour for 10 min. Fifteen bee species belonging to three families, Apidae, Halictidae and Megachilidae, were recorded. With an average of 703.20 ± 45 individuals, Apis mellifera was the main visitor to cashew inflorescences. Major bee activity was recorded between 8 am and 11 am for Apidae and between 10 am and 12 noon for Halictidae and Megachilidae. To conclude, bees visiting cashew flowers in the Bagoue are highly diversified and dominated by A. mellifera.