Diversity and Foraging Behaviour of Pollinators on Sesamum indicum L.

Abstract

The experiment was carried out at different altitudinal gradients of Jammu for two consecutive years (2017 and 2018) to study the diversity and foraging behaviour of various pollinators on flowers of L. The study documented twenty-six (26) species of Sesamum indicum native pollinators from four major families viz., Apidae, Megachilidae, Halictidae and Sphingidae visiting flowers of in all the study S. indicum areas. Megachilid bees, Honey bees, Halictid bees, Ceratina bees, Amegilla bees, Xylocopa bees and Bumble bees were the dominant pollinators, in a decreasing order. Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index and Simpson Index was H= 3.12 and D= 1.80, respectively which indicates high richness of species of entomoforagers among various families. The abundance of various pollinators revealed polynomial pattern of distribution indicating almost even distribution of insects among various pollinator groups with domination of a few groups in terms of flower visitation. Average length of foraging bout was found higher in megachilid bees and honey bees whereas in other cases, moderate foraging bouts were recorded.