Foraging ecology of wild bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) on Cirsium spp. in high land ecosystem of Gulmarg Kashmir-India

AbstractPresent study investigates the foraging behavior and activity period of nine wild bee species including Bombus tunicatus, B. longiceps, B. eurythorax, B. simillimus, B. rufofasciatus, Xylocopa valga, Lasioglossum himalayense, L. polyctor and Ceratina hieroglyphica on Cirsium spp. at high land ecosystem of Kongdoori, Gulmarg Kashmir. Field observations were conducted during the year 2024 to measure the foraging speed (time spent on flower) and foraging rate (flowers visited/min) of wild bees over multiple days of a week respectively. Among the observed bees, Bombus tunicatus exhibited the highest foraging rate (8.95 ± 0.35 flowers/min), whereas L. polyctor recorded the lowest (3.90 ± 0.25 flowers/min). Foraging initiation and cessation times varied across species, with Bombus tunicatus displaying the earliest initiation (0745 ± 0012 h) while late initation was recorded in L. polyctor (1110 ± 0010 h). Additionally, the highest foraging period (h) was observed in Bombus tunicatus (11.00 ± 0.03) with peak foraging activity occurring between 10.30 am -12.50 pm and lowest in L. polyctor (04.05 ± 0.06) with peak activity between 11.00 am -11:30 pm, respectively. The results underscore the significance of these wild bees in pollination ecology and the need to conserve these valuable creatures for conservation of floral and faunal biodiversity in high-land ecosystem.