Vol. 11, Special Issue 7 (2022)

Author(s):
Abhinandan Yadav and Saurabh Sarma

Abstract:
Study was carried out in the Jorhat district, Assam, India to understand the diversity, distribution and abundance of Hymenopteran and Lepidopteran pollinators. Targeted insects were collected from four different locations of the district viz., Titabor, Teok, Nimati and Barbheta. Collected insects were examined, identified and preserved by following standard scientific protocols. This investigation recorded a collection of 663 numbers of specimens belonging to 3 super families and 8 families. Study yielded a total collection of 33 numbers of insect species out of which the order Hymenoptera posses four families (Apidae, Vespidae, Halictidae and Xylocopidae) comprises of 21 species in contrast with Lepidoptera that contains 12 species under four families (Nymphalidae, Pieridae, Hesperiidae and Papilionidae). The values of the Simpson Index of Diversity (1-D) were found as 0.904 and 0.906 against the order Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera, respectively along with high species richness (>0.5). The high species diversity observed during the investigation indicates that the study area is a real paradise for Hymenopteran and Lepidopteran pollinators. This may be because of the undisturbed vegetation and well maintained agricultural as well as horticultural ecosystem that not only provide suitable nectar source throughout the different seasons but also serves as breeding habitat to the pollinators.