Bees inventory in the western region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (Luki Biosphere reserve)

In Sub-Saharan Africa, data on the taxonomy, distribution, and population dynamics of wild bees remain limited, and comprehensive assessments of bee communities are crucial for guiding conservation strategies in Afrotropical regions. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, monitoring efforts have predominantly focused on wild bees. This study documents bee communities in the Luki Biosphere Reserve using standardized sampling protocols. Sampling was conducted in two forest zones: the buffer and transition zones. Over a 12-month period (July 2021 to June 2022), a total of 6,276 bee specimens representing 67 species were collected using hand netting, colored pan traps, and horn traps. The Apidae family was the most abundant, accounting for 87% of observations, with Dactylurina staudingeri (Gribodo, 1893), Apis mellifera L., and Meliponula bocandei Spinola, 1853 being particularly dominant. Phenological analyses indicated that the occurrence of these dominant species remained stable throughout the year. These findings emphasize the importance of long-term monitoring to understand bee community dynamics in Afrotropical ecosystems under environmental and anthropogenic pressures.