Foraging discrepancy of Bombus species with native versus non–native flora in Chitwan Annapurna landscape, Nepal

Abstract

We compared the foraging frequency of bumblebee ( Bombus spp) with native versus non-native flowring plants in Chitwan Annapurna Landscape (CHAL). Specimens were collected using a sweeping net along the altitudinal gradients following an accessible walking trail between 600 to 3500 m asl. The random sampling was carried in different habitat types (agriculture, forest, grassland and home garden) along the transects. The relative frequency of Bombus species was significantly vary with the flowering plant(Native types and non native cultivated, non native naturalized and invasive) in sampling rout along the altitudinal gradients. some Bombus species were found to be foraged only to the specific flowers within the study sites indicating that the specific flowering preference of certain bumblebees in the study area. The overall result indicated, the differential foraging choice of Bombus species with native and non-native plant communities in the study area.