Food plants and bionomics of indigenous Bumblebee,Bombus haemorrhoidalis Smith in Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir of Pakistan

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Research Paper 01/07/2017
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Food plants and bionomics of indigenous Bumblebee,Bombus haemorrhoidalis Smith in Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir of Pakistan

Umer Ayyaz Aslam Sheikh, Munir Ahmad, Muhammad Asif Aziz, Muhammad Naeem, Khalid Mahmood, Muhammad Nasir, Muhammad Imran
Int. J. Biosci.11( 1), 89-96, July 2017.
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Abstract

Bumblebees are important pollinators in both wild and commercial crops with increased use in enclosed farming system of the imported. Bombus haemorrhoidalis Smith is only Bombus species of Rawalakot and there is need to study its life cycle and floral host range to conserve it in future. From three locations of Rawalakot monthly surveys were conducted to collect and observe the bumblebees and its floral host for two years 2012 and 2013. Forty two floral host plants of nineteen plants families were recorded from three new locations. Asteraceae family was found with maximum floral host plants with higher bumblebee workers observed during August-September while male and daughter queens in October-November months. Drastic temperature drop in the month of December resulted in negligible observation records. Floral host range, seasonal distribution and relative abundance of this bumblebee species might be helpful for its future application in possible pollinator rearing program. Eco-biological interaction of this important insect pollinator also values its ecological role of this zone.

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