Vol. 11, Special Issue 7 (2022)

Author(s):
Manju R, Srinivasan MR, Ganapathy N, Mohankumar S and Geethanjali S

Abstract:
Insect pollinators are essential not only for enhanced food production but also play a major role in improving the quality produces. Various threatening agricultural practices decline the pollinators and the service they provide. The current study was designed to record different insect pollinators, their abundance and plant-pollinator interaction in bottle gourd (Lageneria siceraria) during 2022 at Coimbatore region. Based on the current research, nine species were recorded as floral visitors/pollinators in bottle gourd. Out of the nine species, two species belonged to Hymenoptera, two to Coleoptera, three to Lepidoptera and one to Hemiptera. Major pollinators/ floral visitors were evaluated for their abundance and pollinating efficiency. Haptonchus sp. (Nitidulidae: Coleoptera) (72.04%) was the predominant species recorded, followed by Nesidiocoris sp. (Miridae: Hemiptera) (22.61%) and Apis cerana indica Fab. (Apidae: Hymenoptera) (2.03%). Abundance of Hymenopterans (A. cerana indica and Halictus sp.) was less when compared to Haptonchus sp. But the pollen-pollinator interaction of hymenopterans was quantitatively higher than insects of other orders irrespective their abundance. Palynological studies play an essential role in determining the plant-pollinator interaction/ pollen pollinator interaction, pollen taxonomy and the floral source of honey.