Cashew nuts are the third most exported agricultural product in Côte d'Ivoire, though the production in the country remains limited, possibly due to factors such as inadequate pollination. This study aimed to evaluate the insects visiting the inflorescences of cashew trees in Niofoin, located in the northern region of Côte d'Ivoire. The study was conducted in a two-hectare cashew orchard, where insects attracted to the inflorescences were captured and identified. Four cashew varieties were studied: Yellow Benin, Costa Rica, Henry, and James. The activity of Apis mellifera was monitored by counting the number of visits a bee made to an inflorescence per minute, from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. In this study, 16 insect families from 7 different orders, with the Apidae family having the highest number (32.15%). Apis mellifera was the primary insect to visit the inflorescences, with the highest activity observed in the Yellow Benin and Henry varieties, compared to the James and Costa Rica varieties. Honey bee activity showed two distinct peaks during the day: one between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m., and the other from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. In addition, bee activity showed a negative correlation with temperature (P < 0.05; r = -0.59) and a positive correlation with relative humidity (P < 0.05; r = 0.49). Although this study is preliminary, it provides useful information that could help increase cashew production in northern Côte d'Ivoire by improving the role of pollinators.
