The role of sunflower crops in maintaining the biodiversity of hymenopterous insects in agrocenoses of Krasnodar Territory

Abstract

Aim. To study the species composition and abundance of anthophilic Hymenopteran insects in the sunflower agrocenosis and the role of its flowers in maintaining biodiversity in the agrocenoses of the Krasnodar Territory. Material and Methods. The studies were conducted during the sunflower growing season in the Krasnodar Territory from 2017 to 2022 in the Kanevsky, Krasnoarmeysky, Krylovsky, Labinsky, Ust‐Labinsky, Tbilisi and Temryuk districts.Results. In sunflower agrocenoses, 53 species of stinging hymenopteran insects from 10 families are found. For each research area, there is an individual insect fauna, which is characteristic of the agrocenosis and actively visits sunflower flowers. The fauna of each district includes mass species, common and rare, most of which are not interested in sunflower flowers, using other resources. The main visitors of sunflower inflorescences are bumblebees, which in a range of circumstances may visit flowers. Most wasp species are casual visitors to sunflower flowers.Conclusion. Most widely represented in the sunflower agrocenosis are insects of the families Halictidae, Andrenidae, Megachilidae, Apidae. In each research area, there are individual situations when common insect species either visit sunflower flowers or completely ignore them. Combining information on all areas, we observe that in the case of certain local conditions, almost all representatives of the fauna can feed on sunflowers, but it is not the principal resources, only complementing the wild flora.