Association of wild pollinators of Megachilid bees (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) and their host plants in diverse agroecosystems in Jammu, India

Abstract

We conducted surveys of non-Apis flower-visiting insect pollinators in various agroecosystems of Jammu and Kashmir area in India from October 2010 to June 2014. During the study, we collected sixteen species of Megachilids, highlighting Megachile spp. as the dominant group, represented by ten species (accounting for 62% of all Megachilids) followed by 3 species of Osmia bees (19%). Among 16, 15 were exclusively recorded in plain and foothill areas, while only one species, Megachile hera was found from hilly area. Comparatively, the occurrence of different wild bees in hilly areas was lower than that in plains. The host ranges of these wild pollinators encompassed legumes, medicinal plants, and oilseed crops. Megachilid bees, particularly species like Megachile hera and M. bicolour, displayed a wide range of host plants from various families, including Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Cucurbitaceae, etc. In contrast, Osmia was primarily limited to host plants within the Rosaceae family. Given the significant role of wild populations of bee pollinators in crop pollination, conservation with mitigating the stress factors are imperative. Conducting surveys of native bees in diverse landscapes and prioritizing their conservation efforts would greatly contribute to ecosystem sustainability and enhance food security.

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