Honey bees (Apis mellifera) pollinate melon (Cucumis melo) and improve production and quality of fruits. However, little is known about bee behavior and number of hives required. The aims of this study were to compare bees visiting flowers in crop areas with different number of hives (0, 1, 2, and 3), and to evaluate which is the best number. Flowers were observed (n=78) from 5 am to 6 pm, for five consecutive days, in four experimental areas (0.5ha each). Comparisons were made for male (MF) and hermaphrodite (HF) flowers, number of hives and fruit production. The HF were always more visited than MF. Most comparisons made for three hives presented significant differences, since visits increased drastically, competition among bees for floral resources became stronger and reduced the production of commercial fruit (93.4%). On the other hand, the highest percentage of commercial fruit was obtained (99%) with two hives, setting the ideal number of hives as four hives ha-1.
honey bees; Apis mellifera; number of hives; crop pollination; melon; Cucumis melo
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) and hermaphrodite ( 
) flowers of melon (Cucumis melo) during the day: (A) with 0 hive (n=20 MF and 20 HF); (B) with 1 hive (n=18 MF and 18 HF); (C) with 2 hives (n=20 MF and 20 HF); (D) with 3 hives (n=20 MF and 20HF). (MF= male flower; HF= hermaphrodite flower).
