Vol. 7, Issue 5 (2018)

Author(s):
Showket A Dar, Tanweer-Ul-H Malik, Sajad H Dar, Mainaz Nissar, RA Wani, Ajaz A Kandoo and Bashir A Rather

Abstract:
The present experiment on “Visitation pattern of Lasioglossum species on Indigofera species” was carried out in various transit areas of Kashmir valley during 2016. The totals of eleven species were recorded and were found differing in their visitation pattern; time of departure, time of arrival, total foraging times and the mean time spend outside the nesting site. Visitation rates were quantified by counting how many flowers/inflorescences were probed per unit time for 201 plants, in 32 sub-locations of 10 experimental transits, by following individual insects when foraging. The various species differed in their total time spend, total visits, visitation rates and per cent visits, with species Lasioglossum marginatum exhibiting efficient forging behaviour on Himalayan Indigo species. The reasons behind the difference in foraging behaviour were not known; however the species L. marginatum were efficient visitor in all areas and depart early from the nest and arrive late. The species L.marginatum spends comparatively more time in the field. Overall the family Halictidae were most dominant on Himalayan indigo in all patchy planting areas. Till now no data is available on foraging characteristics of any pollinator on Indigofera, therefore this article we highlights the primilarnary information on the foraging behaviour of halictid species in the hilly landscapes areas of the Kashmir region.