For the cultivation of melons, the presence of bees in the flowering period is critical to ensure pollination and increase fruit production. In this sense, this paper aims to verify whether there are differences in behavior and in the floral visits by Apis mellifera foraged in three types of melon. The study was conducted at the Experimental Field of Embrapa Semiárido, Petrolina, PE, with yellow-type cultivars (Araguaia BRS), piel de sapo melon (P-33) and cantaloupe (CAN-4), with observations of floral biology, morphology and behavior of A. mellifera in the period from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00p.m. The visitation's peak was different, occurring from 11:00 to 12:00a.m., 10:00 to 11:00a.m. and 03:00 to 04:00p.m. for the yellow kind, cantaloupe and piel de sapo, respectively. As for the floral foraging, collecting nectar was constant throughout the day, while pollen occurred mainly in the morning. Regarding the type floral, hermaphrodite flowers were, in general, more visits in the cultivar type and piel de sapo, the inverse of the type registered for the cantaloupe. The greatest number of visits recorded in this floral type can be attributed to morphological differences, since its flowers are larger and therefore could be more attractive.
Cucumis melo L.; BRS Araguaia; Pele de sapo; Cantaloupe
