This is a general list of crops grown in the region that are dependent on pollinators. For most of these crops, we have not had the benefit of extensive studies, and much remains to be learnt about their interactions with pollinators.Some crops are 100% dependent on pollinators, without whose pollination services there are simply no yields, as with watermelon, and passionfruit. In other cases as with coffee, and runner beans, pollinators contribute to the volume and improved quality of yields.
For many crops where we consume the vegetative leaves or roots (such as kales, terere, carrots), we still require pollinators for the production of seed.
Common name | Latin name | Pollinator |
Alfalfa | Medicagosativa | Leafcutter bees, halictid bees, honeybees |
Apple | Malusdomestica | Honeybees, solitary bees, hover flies |
Avocado | Perseaamericana | Honeybees, stingless bees, solitary bees, flies, wasps |
Beet | Betavulgaris | Honeybees, hover flies, solitary bees |
Blackbean (Njahe) | Lablabniger | Carpenter bees, leafcutter bees |
Broad bean | Viciafaba | Honeybees, carpenter bees, solitary bees |
Broccoli | Brassicaoleracea | Honeybees, solitary bees |
Brussels sprouts | Brassicaoleracea | Honeybees, solitary bees |
Cabbage | Brassicaoleracea | Honeybees, solitary bees |
Prickly pear | Opuntiaspp. | Carpenter bees, solitary bees, honeybees |
Cantaloupe (Melon) | Cucumismelo | Honeybees, carpenter bees, solitary bees |
Caraway | Carumcarvi | Honeybees, solitary bees, flies |
Cardamom | Elettariacardamomum | Honeybees, solitary bees |
Carrot | Daucuscarota | Flies, solitary bees, honeybees |
Cashew | Anacardiumoccidentale | Honeybees, stingless bees, carpenter bees, solitary bees |
Cauliflower | Brassicaoleracea | Honeybees, solitary bees |
Celery | Apiumgraveolens | Honeybees, solitary bees, flies |
Chilli pepper, Green pepper | Capsicum annuum, Capsicum frutescens | Honeybees, stingless bees, carpenter bees, leafcutter bees, hover flies |
Chinese Cabbage | Brassicarapa | Honeybees, solitary bees |
Clover | Trifolium spp. | Honeybees, carpenter bees, solitary bees |
Cocoa | Theobromacacao | Midges |
Coconut | Cocosnucifera | Honeybees, stingless bees |
Coffee | Coffeaspp. | Honeybees, stingless bees, solitary bees |
Corriander | Coriandrumsativum | Honeybees, solitary bees |
Cotton | Gossypium spp. | Honeybees, carpenter bees, solitary bees |
Cowpea (Black-eyed pea) | Vignaunguiculata | Honeybees, carpenter bees, solitary bees |
Cucumber | Cucumissativus | Honeybees, carpenter bees, solitary bees |
Eggplant | Solanummelongena | Carpenter bees, solitary bees – especially halictid bees |
Fennel | Foeniculumvulgare | Honeybees, solitary bees, flies |
Figs | Ficusspp. | Fig wasps |
Guava | Psidiumguajava | Honeybees, stingless bees, carpenter bees, solitary bees |
Lemons | Citrussp. | Honeybees |
Kidney bean, Green bean | Phaseolusspp. | Honeybees, solitary bees |
Loquat | Eriobotryajaponica | Honeybees, carpenter bees |
Lupine | Lupinusangustifolius | Honeybees, carpenter bees, solitary bees |
Lychee | Litchichinensis | Honeybees, flies |
Macadamia | Macadamiaternifolia | Honeybees, stingless bees, solitary bees, wasps, butterflies |
Mango | Mangiferaindica | Honeybees, stingless bees, flies, ants, wasps |
Mitoo (Crotolaria) | Crotolariabrevidens | Leafcutter bees, carpenter bees |
Mustard | Brassicaalba,Brassica hirta,Brassicanigra | Honeybees, solitary bees |
Palm Oil | Elaeisguineensis | Weevils, thrips |
Okra | Abelmoschusesculentus | Honeybees, solitary bees |
Onion | Alliumcepa | Honeybees, solitary bees |
Papaya | Caricapapaya | Large hawkmoths, butterflies |
Passion Fruit | Passifloraedulis | Carpenter bees, solitary bees, honeybees |
Prunuspersica | Honeybees, carpenter bees, solitary bees, flies | |
Pear | Pyruscommunis | Honeybees, carpenter bees, solitary bees, hover flies |
Pigeon Pea | Cajanuscajan | Honeybees, solitary bees, leafcutter bees, carpenter bees |
Plum | Prunus domestica, Prunusspinosa | Honeybees, carpenter bees, solitary bees, flies |
Pomegranate | Punicagranatum | Honeybees, solitary bees, beetles |
Rapeseed | Brassicanapus | Honeybees, solitary bees |
Raspberries | Rubusidaeus | Honeybees, carpenter bees, solitary bees, hover flies |
Runner Beans | Phaseoluscoccineus | Carpenter bees, honeybees, solitary bees, thrips |
Sesame | Sesamumindicum | Honeybees, solitary bees, wasps, flies |
Spiderplant | Gynandropsisgynandra | Honeybees, amegilla bees, hawkmoths |
Squash, Pumpkin, Gourd, Marrow, Zucchini | Cucurbita spp. | Honeybees, squash bees, carpenter bees, solitary bees |
Strawberries | Fragaria spp. | Honeybees, stingless bees, carpenter bees, solitary bees, hover flies |
Sunflower | Helianthus annuus | Honeybees, carpenter bees, solitary bees |
Tamarind | Tamarindusindica | Honeybees |
Tangerine | Citrustangerina | Honeybees, carpenter bees |
Tomato | Solanumlycopersicum | Carpenter bees, solitary bees |
Turnip | Brassicarapa | Honeybees, solitary bees, flies |
Vanilla | Vanillaplanifolia | Solitary bees, stingless bees |
Vetch | Vicia spp. | Honeybees, carpenter bees, solitary bees |
Watermelon | Citrullus lanatus | Honeybees, carpenter bees, solitary bees |