Studies on Insect Pollinator Fauna and Behaviour of Honeybees in Indian Mustard, [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. and Coss

Abstract

Understanding honeybee foraging behaviour optimizes pollinator usage, increasing crop yield, quality, and ecosystem biodiversity, benefiting mustard and other crops. The present investigations were carried out in the experimental field of mustard crop and the apiary at RVSKVV- Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Morena, Madhya Pradesh, during 2021-22. Results revealed that a total of 36 species belonging to 8 orders viz., Hymenoptera (12), Diptera (9), Lepidoptera (6), Coleoptera (3), Hemiptera (2), Orthoptera (2), Neuroptera (1) and Odonata (1). The comparative mean abundance among the various bees appearing on mustard flowers revealed that Apis mellifera (15.29 bees/m2/5 min) was the predominant visitor followed by A. dorsata (11.57 bees/m2/5 min) and A. cerana indica (6.81 bees/m2/5 min. It was found that A. mellifera, A. dorsata and A. indica constituted 45.40, 34.37 and 20.23 per cent, respectively. The maximum mean foraging speed during different day hours varied from 3.33 to 8.66 seconds for A. cerana indica 1200 hrs to 1600 hrs, respectively and for A. mellifera it varied from 1.46 to 3.66 seconds at 1800 hrs to 1400 hrs, respectively. Additionally, the highest mean foraging rate during different day hours varied from 10.71 to 21.43 flowers visited/min for A. mellifera during 1800 to 1200 hrs, respectively and the mean foraging rate was lowest for A. cerana indica varied from 5.14 to 12.29 flowers visited/min during 1800 to 1200 hrs, respectively