Ethnotaxonomy, taxonomy and ecology of Cameroonian rainforest bees: Insights from Bakola-Bagyeli Indigenous knowledge

Indigenous knowledge of biodiversity continues to be eroded by displacement of people from their traditional lifestyles and access to nature worldwide. Documenting existing knowledge is important for both cultural survival and biodiversity conservation. Little is known to science about the ecology and diversity of wild bees, critically important pollinators for cultivated and wild plant species alike, in Cameroon’s rainforest. While apiculture is not traditionally practiced, wild honey that is harvested and prized. We documented ecological knowledge surrounding bees held by members of the Bakola-Bagyeli Indigenous group and compared ethnotaxonomic groupings to current taxonomic ones. To accurately link the two taxonomies and to obtain ecological insights, we combined focus group discussions supported by specimens obtained via netting on flowers and baiting, with focal follows of nest searches and specimens obtained thereby. Specimens were identified scientifically using existing keys and sorted to morphotypes when species-level descriptions were lacking. Ethnotaxonomically, bees harvested for honey were grouped as distinct from other bees, which were considered non-bee insects such as wasps or flies and for which there is less knowledge. Among these honey producing bees or Bagnò, eleven ethnotaxa used by the Bakola-Bagyeli of Southern Cameroon have been identified. They represent at least three genera, and thirteen morphospecies, including Apis and stingless bees but work is still in progress. Indigenous knowledge documented included names, identifying traits, their nesting habitat, substrate, honey traits, and relative abundance. Specimens and high resolution photographs are available for further study as tropical African Apidae remain poorly taxonomically resolved.