Visiting behaviour of Moringa oleifera flowers by potential insect pollinators

The influence of potential insect pollinators is decisive in the fruiting process of many cross-pollinated plants. The aim of this study was to determine the behaviour of potential pollinating insects visiting Moringa oleifera flowers. Collections were carried out from July to September 2018 and 2019, followed by monitoring of the behavior of potential insect pollinators from July to September 2020 in the Sahelian, North Sudanian and South Sudanian zones. The methodology consisted in the use of a Fauchoir net for the exhaustive collection of insects visiting Moringa. The results revealed that a total of 50 species of pollinating insects divided into 25 families and three orders (Hymenoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera) were identified on the basis of the presence of body hairs on Moringa. Of these, nine insect species collect both nectar and pollen. These are : Xylocopa violacea (L.), Anthophora plumipes (Pallas, 1772), Apis mellifera (L.), Xylocopa pubescens (Spinola, 1838), Pollenia rudis (F.), Alophora hemiptera (F.), Syrphus ribesii (L.), Danaus chrysippus (L.) and Pieris rapae (L.). The times of day when pollinating insects appear on Moringa flowers vary from species to species. The abundance of these pollinators and the duration of their presence on the flowers vary according to geographical area and pollinator species. Hymenoptera are the dominant pollinators in Moringa plantations.