The mite, V. destructor is one of the most destructive pests
of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) worldwide (Rosenkranz
et al. 2010). Varroa mite has two haplotypes that are able
to reproduce successfully on A. mellifera; the Japan-type is
relatively non-virulent whereas the Korea-type, is extremely
virulent (Anderson and Trueman 1998; Anderson 2000). In
Saudi Arabia, the mite was first reported in 1987 (AlGhamdi
1990), perhaps through a shipment of introduced honeybees
from Egypt, the usual package bee supplier of Saudi Arabia.

To understand annual survival rates or losses in
honey bee colonies, Apis mellifera L., under hot and
dry regions, the ecosystem impact on the indigenous
and exotic subspecies should be highly focused. Ecological
limitations such as drought, severe ambient
summer temperatures, Varroa mite infestation levels,
improper use of pesticides, and inadequate management
practices comprise the most obvious influences
on beekeeping in this region (Alattal et al., 2014b; Alghamdi
et al., 2013; Alqarni et al., 2011; Ali, 2011). In

The majority of lavender species are indigenous
to the mountainous regions of the western Mediterranean
countries, the islands of the Atlantic,
Turkey, Pakistan, and India (Chu and Kemper, 2001).
Moreover, they are native to northern, eastern, and
southern Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Bulgaria, and
Russia (Boning, 2010).
Lavender species survive, and can thrive, in arid
and semi-arid regions of the world, even in areas
threatened by desertification (Azcón and Barea,
1997). It is known as extremely drought resistant

Beekeeping is an important activity to agriculture, food

security and biodiversity as well as it participates in reducing

poverty and boost livelihoods in rural areas worldwide

(Chazovachii

et al

., 2013; Gupta

et al

., 2014). It also contributes

in the agricultural production due to the essential role of

honey bees,

Apis mellifera

, in plants pollination as the

pollination of more than 90 crops depend mainly on honey

bees (Partap

et al

Socotra Island is characterized by a high level of endemism (37%) comparable with other oceanic islands such as Mauritius,
Galapagos and the Canary islands (Miller and Morris, 2004). Dracaena cinnabari (Agavaceae) (D. cinnabari ) is arguably the main endemic
flagship species of Socotra, commonly known as Damm Al-akhwain in Yemen. It is one of the six arboreal species (Dragon blood tree) of the
genus (Marrero et al., 1998). D. cinnabari is threatened for the collection of resins (Dragon blood). Dragon’s blood is a deep red resin, which has

Many studies have investigated the pollination
ecology and partitioning of pollinators of acacia
species from Australia, Africa, and Latin America
(Armbruster & Herzig 1984; Krüger & McGavin
1998; Stone et al. 1998, 2003; Tandon & Shivanna
2001; Tybirk 1993). However, the lack of sufficient
information on geographical variation in acacia
pollination ecology and timing of pollen release has
been identified as an important gap in our
knowledge (Stone et al. 1998). Particularly, despite