Temporal patterns and species composition of insect pollinators visiting coriander flowers in northern Karnataka

AbstractThe present study investigated pollinator diversity and abundance in coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) in an open pollination environment. Present research employed visual counting methods across different flowering stages to assess pollinator dynamics. The findings revealed a diverse pollinator community, with Hymenoptera dominating at 78.02% of total insect visitors. Apis florea emerged as the most frequent pollinator, constituting 36.94% of visits, followed by Apis cerana indica (22.83%). Other significant pollinators included natural species like Sphaerophoria macrogaster (5.2%) and Ischidon scutellaris (5.6%). Pollinator activity exhibited distinct temporal patterns, with peak visitation occurring between 10:00 -11:00 h. The number of visitors progressively increased across flowering stages, from 235.80 to 342.0 visitors/m2/5 min. Diversity indices remained relatively consistent, indicating a stable pollinator community. This study enhances our comprehension of plant-pollinator dynamics in agricultural environments, highlighting the critical role of insect pollinators in crop yields.