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Background: The Yucatan Peninsula (YP) is one of the most important regions in global apiculture. Hence, this work reviews and integrates the knowledge of the species diversity, growth habits, ecosystems, floral calendars during the apiculture production cycles and the types of vegetation represented in the melliferous flora (MF) of the YP; as a basis for proposing selection strategies locating suitable apiculture production areas for local beekeepers and help in the economic development of the region., Methods: A comprehensive review of the MF literature was carried out using the snowball method to determine and update the number of species useful for apiculture. The growth habits and flower calendars were determined through a review of the literature and databases of specimens from the herbaria CICY, UCAM and MEXU., Results: The YP reports a total of 935 taxa of MF (98 families and 498 genera); of these, Campeche has 812 taxa, followed by Quintana Roo (786) and Yucatán (767). The MF is made up of herbs (282), followed by shrubs (260), trees (229), climbers (82), woody climbers (67) palms (14) and parasitic plant (1)., Conclusion: Of the 935 species of MF registered at the regional level, a high number of species have flowering throughout the year, however, not all of these species are considered useful for local commercial apiculture. Only a select group of 23 species are considered of major importance for local apiculture industry., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

In Mexico, beekeeping is one of the main activities of the agricultural sector due to its production of high quality honey which is exported to several European countries. Beekeeping is practiced by more than 40,000 producers; with around two million hives in apiaries distributed in the five honey producing regions of Mexico (North, Central and Highlands, Pacific, Gulf and Yucatan Peninsula). The Yucatan Peninsula comprising of Campeche, Quintana Roo and Yucatan, is considered as one the most important honey producing region since it contributes to about 95 % of Mexican honey production in the international markets. The region represents to 30 to 35 % of the total number of Mexican bee colonies, and beekeeping is considered as a secondary agricultural activity. With the purpose of characterizing the beekeeping activity in Campeche (in municipalities of Campeche, Champoton and Hopelchen), Yucatan Peninsula a comprehensive survey was conducted on 120 producers from July to December, 2016. The average age of beekeepers was found to be 57 years, with an average of 2.27 apiaries per producer and with 20.6 hives per apiary. The survey revealed that beekeepers devote two days a week to beekeeping and make on an average 3.67 harvests per year. Based on the survey results, it is recommended to promote generational change in the local beekeeping activity, with stronger emphasis on the young beekeepers of the region.

The Yucatan Peninsula, located in southern Mexico, is a central honey-producing region with extraordinary biodiversity of melliferous plants. Approximately 900 plant species have been described as being a source of nectar and pollen for bees and other pollinators. They provide ecosystem services that help to keep plant biodiversity high and mitigate the effects of climate change. This study aimed to reveal the diversity of the pollen content in honey through a melissopalynological analysis of 22 honey samples collected in February–August 2021 from the north-central area of Campeche, Mexico. The extraction of pollen from the honey was carried out using standard methods for melissopalynological analysis. The honeys were classified by botanical origin to determine their floral sources and a diverse spectrum of 19 pollen types from 13 families was identified. Only eight were predominant: Milleria quinqueflora, Gymnopodium floribundum, Terminalia buceras, Amaranthus spinosus, Zea mays, Talisia floresii, Guazuma ulmifolia, and Croton icche. Our research shows the high quality of the honey analyzed and highlights the diversity and critical role of local melliferous flora and crops in beekeeping development in southern Mexico. The results in this study are useful for confirming the botanical origins of honey, generating information for designing nature conservation and agroecosystem management strategies, and increasing the knowledge of beekeepers in Campeche, Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]