ETHNOBOTANICAL STUDY OF HONEYBEE FLORA DIVERSITY AND USES IN HARO LIMU DISTRICT, EAST WALLAGA ZONE, OROMIA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT The study was conducted to investigate the ethnobotany, diversity, and uses of honeybee flora in Haro Limu District, East Wallaga Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia. A total of 389 respondents were purposively selected, along with district experts, for data collection, and specimens of honeybee flora were collected from three Kebeles. Socio-demographic analysis showed that 52.8% of respondents were men, 33.6% had completed primary education, 65.15% were aged between 24 and 35, and 80.9% had a medium life status. Using interviews, visual observations, and field surveys, 65 plant species were documented, of which 48 were classified as major and 17 as minor honeybee flora sources across different agro-ecological zones. Most species flower during the first (September–November) and second (December–February) seasons, highlighting two major periods for nectar and pollen availability, when beekeepers can optimally manage hives, divide colonies, add supers, and harvest honey. Beekeepers commonly positioned traditional hives in backyards, while key challenges to apiculture included natural enemies of bees, agrochemical poisoning, lack of knowledge in bee management, scarcity of colonies, and plant related toxicity. The study underscores the importance of further ethnobotanical research on honeybee flora to enhance productivity and income for local beekeepers. Keywords: Apiculture, Honeybee flora, Honey, Major flower, Minor flower