Research Article

Effectiveness of wild bees in the pollination of Citrullus lanatus l. in the Algerian Sahara

Volume: 66 Number: 3 September 30, 2026
TR EN

Effectiveness of wild bees in the pollination of Citrullus lanatus l. in the Algerian Sahara

Abstract

This study was carried out at an experimental site in Laghrousse, province of Biskra (Algeria), on a Watermelon crop (Citrullus lanatus L.) during the 2024 flowering period. Among the inspected insect groups, Hemiptera and Coleoptera are considered as visitors; Hymenoptera, Diptera, and Lepidoptera are considered as pollinators of watermelon. The statistical analysis showed that Hymenoptera is the most abundant group and the main pollinators in this crop. It was found that seven species of wild bees- Halictus rubicundus (Christ, 1791), Lasioglossum pallens (Brullé, 1832), Lasioglossum sisymbrii (Cockerell, 1895) (Hymenoptera: Halictidae), Hylaeus hyalinatus (Smith, 1842) (Hymenoptera: Colletidae), Megachile rotundata (Fabricius, 1787) (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), Epeolus cruciger (Panzer, 1799), and Anthophora bimaculata (Panzer, 1798) (Hymenoptera: Apidae) were their most effective pollinators, although watermelon is a self-compatible plant. The intervention of pollinators in this culture by xenogamy improves the quantitative yield of the watermelon by a percentage of 94,27% and qualitatively by increasing the market value of the fruits by a percentage of 100%, compared to self-pollination by geitonogamy. The study also identified five species of wild flowering plants: Reseda lutea L. (Resedaceae); Convolvulus cantabrica L. (Convolvulaceae); Carduus nigrescens Vill. (Asteraceae); Sinapis pubescens L. (Brassicaceae); and Torilis arvensis (Huds.) Link. (Apiaceae), at the edges of the greenhouse, which attract these wild bee species pollinating watermelons.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Scientific and Technical Research Center on Arid Regions in Biskra (Crstra Biskra) / Plant Protection Central Research Institute

Ethical Statement

the manuscript meets all applicable standards with regard to the ethics of experimentation and research, and there is no duplicate publication, fraud, plagiarism, or concerns about animal or human experimentation.

Thanks

the authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to their colleagues and advisors for their valuable guidance and constructive suggestions throughout the course of this research.

References

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  3. Amiet F., Herrmann M., Müller A., Neumeyer R., 2004. Apidae 4: Anthidium, Chelostoma, Coelioxys, Dioxys, Heriades, Lithurgus, Megachile, Osmia, Stelis. Fauna Helvetica 9, 273 p.
  4. Amiet F., Herrmann M., Müller A., Neumeyer R., 2007. Apidae 5: Ammobates, Ammobatoides, Anthophora, Biastes, Ceratina, Dasypoda, Epeoloides, Epeolus, Eucera, Macropis, Melecta, Melitta, Nomada, Pasites, Tetralonia, Thyreus, Xylocopa. Fauna Helvetica 20, 356 p.
  5. Amiet F., Herrmann M., Müller A., Neumeyer R., 2014. Apidae 2: Colletes, Dufourea, Hylaeus, Nomia, Nomioides, Rhophitoides, Rophites, Sphecodes, Systropha. Fauna Helvetica 4, 219 p.
  6. Anonymous, 2020. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAOSTAT). Available online at: http: www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC (Accessed date: January 10, 2022).
  7. Anonymous, 2024. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAOSTAT). Crops and livestock products – Algeria.
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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Entomology in Agriculture

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 30, 2026

Submission Date

January 29, 2026

Acceptance Date

September 2, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 66 Number: 3

APA
Mokrane, I., Bendifallah, L., & Güler, Y. (2026). Effectiveness of wild bees in the pollination of Citrullus lanatus l. in the Algerian Sahara. Plant Protection Bulletin, 66(3), 256-269. https://doi.org/10.16955/bitkorb.1874036
AMA
1.Mokrane I, Bendifallah L, Güler Y. Effectiveness of wild bees in the pollination of Citrullus lanatus l. in the Algerian Sahara. Plant Protection Bulletin. 2026;66(3):256-269. doi:10.16955/bitkorb.1874036
Chicago
Mokrane, Imane, Leila Bendifallah, and Yasemin Güler. 2026. “Effectiveness of Wild Bees in the Pollination of Citrullus Lanatus L. In the Algerian Sahara”. Plant Protection Bulletin 66 (3): 256-69. https://doi.org/10.16955/bitkorb.1874036.
EndNote
Mokrane I, Bendifallah L, Güler Y (September 1, 2026) Effectiveness of wild bees in the pollination of Citrullus lanatus l. in the Algerian Sahara. Plant Protection Bulletin 66 3 256–269.
IEEE
[1]I. Mokrane, L. Bendifallah, and Y. Güler, “Effectiveness of wild bees in the pollination of Citrullus lanatus l. in the Algerian Sahara”, Plant Protection Bulletin, vol. 66, no. 3, pp. 256–269, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.16955/bitkorb.1874036.
ISNAD
Mokrane, Imane - Bendifallah, Leila - Güler, Yasemin. “Effectiveness of Wild Bees in the Pollination of Citrullus Lanatus L. In the Algerian Sahara”. Plant Protection Bulletin 66/3 (September 1, 2026): 256-269. https://doi.org/10.16955/bitkorb.1874036.
JAMA
1.Mokrane I, Bendifallah L, Güler Y. Effectiveness of wild bees in the pollination of Citrullus lanatus l. in the Algerian Sahara. Plant Protection Bulletin. 2026;66:256–269.
MLA
Mokrane, Imane, et al. “Effectiveness of Wild Bees in the Pollination of Citrullus Lanatus L. In the Algerian Sahara”. Plant Protection Bulletin, vol. 66, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 256-69, doi:10.16955/bitkorb.1874036.
Vancouver
1.Imane Mokrane, Leila Bendifallah, Yasemin Güler. Effectiveness of wild bees in the pollination of Citrullus lanatus l. in the Algerian Sahara. Plant Protection Bulletin. 2026 Sep. 1;66(3):256-69. doi:10.16955/bitkorb.1874036

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