Luffa Cylindrica (L.) As Potential Foraging Source For Insect Pollinators During Post Monsoon Season – A Study In Gangetic Plain Of West Bengal

Abstract

Pollination is an important ecosystem service and insects play the most vital role of its. Insect pollinators need good foraging resources all year long to survive, which are provided by both wild and cultivated plants. However, although being crucial for pollinator survival during scarcity, these wild plants receive little attention. Present study had been carried out in Gangetic plain of West Bengal to document the potentiality of the wild creeping plant, Luffa cylindrica L. as foraging resource for insect pollinators during the post monsoon season, when flowering in major trees is sparse. Active netting explore diversity of flower visitors, while palynological study confirms the pollen foraging activity of two reared honey bees, Apis mellifera L. and Apis cerana indica F. on the creeper. Insects belonged to orders viz. Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera and Coleoptera were found to visit. Hymenopterans were the major insect visitors comprising 66.34% of total. Palynological study revealed that Apis mellifera and Apis cerana indica togetherly visit 17 and 16 plant species for pollen collection during the study months. In October, Luffa cylindrica contributed 10.53% and 11.27% of total pollen taxa foraged by Apis mellifera and Apis cerana indica respectively and grouped as important minor pollen for the honey bees. However, in the month of November it contributed 11.84% and 9.88% of total respectively. Being a creeper, however, these are not given much protection and are often weeded out, which can have a negative impact on native pollinator populations foraging on the crops.