Agents hazardous to honey bees (Apis mellifera L.), as perceived by the apiculturists from Cáceres, North Pantanal, Brazil

Abstract

The use of ethno-science in studies to understand apiculturists’ perception of agents hazardous to honey bees is extremely important for optimizing apiculture. Seventeen semi-structured interviews were performed from March to April of 2004, with members of APIALPA (Alto Pantanal Apiculturist Association) and with other apiculturists who have their apiaries in Cáceres county, Mato Grosso. The questions were directed to what informants know about the hazardous agents in apiaries in Cáceres and cultural and social-economics apiarists’ data to support later studies. Observations were made in three apiaries, and local flora and photographic records were collected. The hazardous agents were classified by apiculturists as predators, toxic plants, or parasites. Predators (82.4%) included ants, giant armadillos, birds, tayras, frogs, spiders and humans. Parasites (41.2%) cited were: varroa mites, termites, wasps and other bees, clothes moths and flies. Toxic plant products (65%) included African tulip tree nectar (Spathodea campanulata), the true barbatimão (Stryphnodendron adstringes) and false barbatimão pollens (Dimorphandra mollis). According to apiculturists interviewed, the hazardous agents cited have no great risk to apiary yield of Cáceres and surrounding areas. In this study, diseases and the use of pesticides as agents responsible for the damage of the Cáceres apicultural region were not reported by apiculturists. This may indicate quality of apiary products.