Abundance and Foraging Activity of Insect Pollinators on Pearl Millet

Field experiments on the foraging activity and effect of weather parameters on the abundance of insect pollinators on pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) were conducted at the College of Agriculture and Agricultural Research Station, Jodhpur during June to October 2022. Major insect pollinators were of Hymenoptera (four species i.e., Apis dorsata F., A. florea F., Lipotriches spp. and Megachile albifrons) of which the most frequent was M. albifrons. Among Diptera, blow fly and Physiphora sp. were found Apis dorsata foraging activity was maximum during 0800-0900 hrs. Maximum A. florea activity was seen between 1100 and 1200 hrs, followed by 0800-0900 and 0900-1100 hrs. The activity of Lipotriches spp. and M. albifrons was found maximum between 700-800 and 1700-1800 hrs, respectively. Dipterans visitors were highly active between 0900-1100 hrs. Impact of temperature, relative humidity, rainfall and sunshine on hymenopteran and dipterans pollinators was assessed. Temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, and sunshine had no effect on the populations of A. dorsata, A. florea, Lipotriches sp. and blow fly. Population of M. albifrons was not affected by temperature, rainfall, and sunshine but its occurrence decrease with relative humidity. Population of Physiphora sp. increases with temperature and sunlight, but not with relative humidity and sunlight.