Ability of Honey and Aqueous Plant Extracts on the Attraction of Bees during Flowering Period in Mango (Mangifera indica) var. Ataulfo Cultivation

Abstract

In recent decades there have been low yields of mango (Mangifera indica L.) var. Ataulfo, related to the presence of pests and diseases, for which the irrational use of pesticides has increased, causing a deficit of pollinators. Among the alternatives allowing attracting pollinators are plant extracts. The study was carried out in the mango orchard var. Ataulfo in the Soconusco region, Chiapas, México in the years 2020 and 2021. Six treatments were used: 1) 1.25% aqueous skunk plant extract, 2) 1.25% aqueous skunk plant extract + 0.5% Melipona solani honey, 3) 0.5% M. solani honey, 4) 2% commercial garlic extract, 5) 2% commercial clove extract and 6) water as control. For each of the treatments, five selected trees were sprayed one day before the application of the treatments and one day after the bees attracted with entomological nets were collected during the following six days, which were taxonomically identified. The results showed that the most attractive treatments were skunk extract 1.25% + M. solani honey 0.5% and M. solani honey (0.5%), with highly significant differences (p<0.001). The days of greatest attraction were the second and fourth days after treatment application. The use of M. solani honey + skunk extract has potential as a pollinator attractant in mango var. Ataulfo in the Soconusco region, Chiapas. © 2023 Friends Science Publishers