Insect Pollinators of Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) and their Foraging Behaviour
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Date
2020-08-29
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MPUT, UDAIPUR
Abstract
Insect Pollinators of Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) and their Foraging Behaviour
with different objectives like diversity of insect pollinators, foraging activity of major
insect pollinators, bio-efficacy of botanicals on the major insect pest of pumpkin and
their side effects on insect pollinators was conducted during kharif 2019 at the
Horticulture Farm, Rajasthan college of Agriculture, MPUAT, Udaipur.
The insect pollinators of pumpkin consist of total 7 species. Among honey bees,
Apis dorsata proved to be the dominant one (67.40%) followed by A. florea (14.28%).
Other hymenopteran pollinators belong to family Halictidae (7.93%) and Sphecidae
(3.17%) also shown their presence. The other pollinators include Diptera and
Lepidoptera as they together constitute about 6.87%.
A. dorsata activity was observed from 0600-1300 hrs with peak activity at
0900-1000 hrs. Its activity was suddenly decreased after 1300 hr could be due to the
closing of pumpkin flowers after 1100 hr of the day. A. florea activity was observed
from 0600-1400 hrs with peak activity at 0800-0900 hrs. Its activity was suddenly
decreased after 1400 hr.
Side-effects of botanicals on major insect pollinators of pumpkin recorded that
there was a decrease in insect pollinator intensity ranging from 7.95 to 20.45%. The
minimum reduction was seen in the plots treated with Azadirachtin seed kernel extract
(5%) (-7.95%) and the maximum reduction was seen in the plots treated with
Azadirachtin oil (1%) (-20.45%). Effect of botanicals on the major insect pest of
pumpkin observed that Azadirachtin seed kernel extract (5%) was more effective
against red pumpkin beetle followed by Azadirachtin leaf extract (10%).
Description
Insect Pollinators of Pumpkin and their Foraging Behaviour
Keywords
Citation
Umesh SR And Vyas A.