Bio-ecology and Diversity of Insect Pollinators on Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum Linn.)
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Date
2018
Authors
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Publisher
MPUAT, Udaipur
Abstract
Bio-ecology and Diversity of Insect Pollinators on Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum
Linn.)
Vikash Kumar Sankhala* Dr. N.L. Dangi Bio-ecological studies on insect pollinators of sweet basil were carried out at
the Instructional farm, Rajasthan College of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur during
Kharif, 2017, with an aim to establish the diversity of insect pollinators visiting
flowers of sweet basil and study the foraging behaviour of honey bees.
The diversity of insect pollinators on sweet basil comprised insects belonging
to 16 families representing 5 orders: Hymenoptera (5); Lepidoptera (5); Coleoptera
(1); Hemiptera (3) and Diptera (2). Order Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera emerged as
the dominant pollinators on sweet basil. The maximum (1.20) Shannon Weaver
diversity index for transect sampling was observed during 16:00 to 18:00 hours; while
minimum (0.94) was during 10:00 to 12:00 hours. The Shannon Weaver diversity
index for insect pollinators trapped in the colored bee bowls (Yellow, White & Blue)
was recorded maximum (1.59) in white bee bowl and the minimum (1.34) in yellow
pan trap.
The linear relationships estimated between insect pollinators with mean
atmospheric temperature and the pollinators with mean relative humidity did not show
significant correlation.
The foraging activity of most pollinators was recorded to be maximum during
12:00 to 14:00 hours of the day. The time spent by individual forager honeybee
ranged from 25.00 to 76.67 seconds per flower during the flowering period. The
maximum time spent per flower was 76.67 seconds per flower during the 36th
Standard Metrological Week during this week. The number of flowers visited by
individual forager honeybee per plant ranged from 2.45 to 6.60.
Description
Bio-ecology, Diversity, Insect Pollinators, Sweet Basil
Keywords
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Citation
Sankhala. V.K, and Dangi. N.L.