DIVERSITY, SEASONAL CHANGES AND FLORAL CHOICES OF SPECIES OF THE APIDAE FAMILY (HYMENOPTERA: APOIDEA) IN TIZI-OUZOU REGION (ALGERIA)

Bees have a great economic and environmental importance; they play an important role in terrestrial ecosystems as pollinators. This field survey was carried out on the bee fauna and its abundance in the region of Tizi-Ouzou (northern Algeria) from January to August over a period of three years, from 2012 to 2014. This study focused on the family Apidae (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) in four localities with different altitudes and with a great plant diversity, little is known about this family in the Tizi-Ouzou region. A total of 612 specimens of solitary harvesting bees (no cleptoparasites) including 34 species and subspecies belonging to six genera were collected in the study area using various sampling techniques. Represented by 13 species, Eucera was the dominant genus. It was followed by Anthophora and Ceratina with seven species each. The most abundant species were Ceratina cucurbitina, and Eucera notata. Moreover, we report two species and one subspecies as endemic for North Africa: Eucera spatulata, Eucera decolorata, Xylocopa iris cupripennis. The present study provides base data for studies of the insect biodiversity of Tizi-Ouzou area. These findings constitute a first step towards building regional networks to address issues regarding the understanding and management of our ecosystems.