Diagnostique de l’apiculture dans les villages périphériques du parc W du Niger

Within the scope of the development of beekeeping in Niger, a study was conducted in two villages, namely Moli Haoussa and Tamou both located in the Fauna Total Reserve of Tamou near the W National Park of Niger. This study aimed at characterizing the hives, the bees and the constraints linked to honey production. In Moli Haoussa where the Gourmantche constitute the dominant ethnic group, beekeeping is the main income generating activity. In this village, twenty three households over the total of 27 practice bee keeping with a total number of 362 traditional hives and 118 modern ones. In Tamou, a village where Haoussa and Djerma are dominant groups, only 20 traditional and 89 modern hives were counted. On the 10 bee colonies observed in Moli Haoussa, an average of 855 honey cavities per honeycomb was calculated. A cavity has a mean diameter of 4.28 mm and a mean height of 9.88 mm. Coloration index was 1.61 mm. These values indicate that the bee species in presence could be Apis mellifera adansonii. Almost all the hives were parasitized by Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).