A study was conducted to assess the diversity of pollinators indrumstick, Moringa oleifera Lam. orchardat Oddanchatram, Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu. A total of 27 species of pollinators were recorded including 13 species of Hymenopterans, 7 species of Dipterans and Lepidopterans each. Apis cerana indica F. was the dominant pollinator followed by Amegillazonata L. and Apisdorsata F. Among the Dipterans, Episyrphus sp. was dominant followed by Sarcophaga sp. and Lucilia sp. Among the Lepidopterans, Oriensgoloides M. was found to be the maximum followed by Papiliopolytes L. and Danaus chrysippus L. Simpson's D was the highest at 14.00 to 15.00 h. Simpson's E ranged from 0.3 to 0.7 with maximum evenness at 06.00 to 07.00 h. Pollination Efficiency Index was found to be the highest in case of Xylocopa sp. followed by A.cerana indica F. and A. dorsata F. results indicated that A.cerena.indica F. was the most abundant pollinator but Xylocopa sp. was the most efficient pollinator in drumstick ecosystem.

Stingless bees are the smallest eusocial bees and crucial pollinators of tropical and subtropical ecosystems. The aim of this study is to analyse the foraging pattern and variability in resource intake of Tetragonula iridipennis Smith among different times and months. Foraging pattern of a T. iridipennis colony for pollen, nectar and resin reward collection was recorded from December 2017 to March 2018. The observations revealed that there is a difference in foraging activity within same day during different time interval as well as between months. Both pollen and nectar foraging activity was least during early morning (7.00 am to 9.00 am) hours whereas, resin foragers started their foraging activity as early as 7.00 am to 8.00 am. The pollen foraging activity attained peak from 8.00 am to 12.00 pm, resin foraging activity attained peak from 8.00 am to 11.00 but nectar foraging was observed more in noon and evening hours (12.00 pm to 5.00 pm). Foraging for all types of rewards (pollen, nectar and resin) was observed more during the month of March followed by February.

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Sunflower is a bee loving crop. The foraging behaviour of Apis dorsata L. was studied in comparison with Indian bee (A. cerana indica) and stingless bee (Trigona sp.) on this crop. A.dorsata outnumbered the other two bee species on capitulum after anther dehiscence during all the three stages of blooming. A. dorsata population varied at different hours of the day showing a bimodal distribution. The foragers were active from 10.00 to 11.00 am in the forenoon and 2.00 to 3.00 pm in the afternoon. Foraging behaviour showed distinct variation according to the floral reward collected. A.dorsata alone was found to tap the nectar fully due to its longer lapping tongue. Exclusive pollen collectors were rare. Majority of the foragers collected both pollen and nectar. Exclusive nectar foragers intentionally discarded the pollen load before final take off. Rains adversely affected the time of commencement and cessation of foraging. Among all the bee species studied, A.dorsata was the best pollinator of sunflower based on pollinator efficiency index. Wild honey bees like A.dorsata have to be conserved in crop ecosystem where planned pollination with hive bees is not in vogue.