Diversity, abundance, and foraging behaviour of flower visiting insects in cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) in South East Central India

Abstract

The present study examined the diversity and foraging behavior of insect visitors on cashew (Anacardium occidentale) inflorescence, revealing a diverse assemblage of pollinators across five insect orders: Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Hemiptera. A total of 20 insect species were recorded, with Hymenoptera, particularly Apis cerana indica, Apis florea, and Tetragonula sp., being the most frequent visitors and key pollinators. Ants were observed in abundance but their role in pollination remained uncertain. Pollinator preference was influenced by floral rewards, with nectar-foraging bees favoring hermaphrodite flowers, while pollen-collecting bees showed a preference for male flowers. Foraging behavior varied across species, with Pieris rapae exhibiting the fastest foraging speed (3.66 s flower^− 1) whereas, highest foraging rate (7.60 flowers min^− 1) was recorded in Apis cerana indica. Pollinator abundance was highest between 10:00–12:00 h, coinciding with peak nectar availability. Diversity indices revealed that Shannon’s diversity index and Simpson’s dominance index were highest during mid-morning, gradually declining in the late afternoon. Among cashew varieties, VRI-3 exhibited the highest pollinator diversity, whereas Indira Kaju recorded the lowest. The findings emphasize the role of diverse pollinator communities in enhancing cashew pollination efficiency and highlight the need for targeted pollination management strategies to optimize cashew yield. Understanding pollinator dynamics can contribute to improved cashew productivity through conservation and management of key pollinating species.