The foraging and potential outcrossing pollination ranges of African honeybees (Apiformes : Apidae; Apini) in Congo Forest

Honey bees (Apis mellifera adansonii) in a Gabonese forest were marked at f eeding stations having odor beacons (vanilla extract), offering 4 oz. of 20 -50% scented sugar solution. Experiments were conducted for 28 days while 7 380 total bees were marked at stations along a 2 km forest trail. Stations each 300 m were used to score honey bee movement to new sites. During 706 s tation observations, 57% included bees that had shifted feeding sites by up to 1.6 km, with negative logarithmic distribution away from the marking si te. Site shifts within a single day showed a similar range, minimum times o f 14-18 min for 300-600 m, and a linear relationship between distance and t ime elapsed since marking (P = 0.001, r(2) = 0.41). These data suggest hone y bees may provide gene flow to plant populations within an area of 1.8 km( 2) and between individuals separated by >1.5 km. Further analysis suggests bees sometimes trapline 300-600 m, perhaps without first returning to the n est, but rarely do so for longer distances.