Honeybee Flora and Floral Calendar of Northern Ethiopia

Honeybee floral colander is a time- table that indicates approximate date and duration of blossoming of the important honeybee flora. It is one of the most useful tools of apicultural extension workers. Therefore, a study was conducted in Debrekian (Hawzen) and Begasheka (kola temben) watersheds to identify and prepare floral cycle for the two watersheds. Cordia Africana, Becium grandiflorum, and Hypostus ariculatal were identified as the best honeybee floras of the watersheds. Honeybee floras are abundant from the beginning of July until the end of November in Debrekidan and from the beginning of August until the end of December in Begasheka. As a result the major honey flow season of Debrekidan watershed is from September to November and from beginning of October until the end of December in Begasheka. In addition there is high swarming from August to September in the study areas. Even though there is optimum availability of bee forages, there is scarcity of bee forage from the beginning of December until the end of May and from the beginning of January until the end of July in Debrekidan and Begasheka watersheds respectively.