Bee-pollinator-plant connections: A review of wild bee diversity and plant associations in West Bengal, India

This review synthesizes the current knowledge on the 139 species of wild bees in West Bengal, India, and their interactions with 17 plant families, including 37 species of host plants in Orobanchaceae and Brassicaceae, and 39 nectar plants in Asteraceae. The complex relationships between these wild bees and their host and nectar plants are discussed, including the importance of specific plant species, such as Sapindaceae (34 species), Onagraceae (33 species), and Fabaceae (20 species), for the survival and reproduction of certain bee species. The review highlights the need for further research on the interactions between these 139 wild bee species and their plant partners, with implications for the conservation and management of pollinator populations in the region, which is impacted by environmental factors such as habitat fragmentation and climate change.