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Foraging Rhythm of Bees in Relation to Flowering of Sweet Basil, Ocimum basilicum L.


Affiliations
1 Division of Entomology, S.K. University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Main Campus Chatha, Jammu 180 009, India
 

Sixteen species of insects belonging to four families of Hymenoptera visited flowers of Ocimum basilicum. Among them, non-Apis bees represented 85% of all flower visitors. Nectar was the main attractant for floral visitors. Besides Ocimum, agricultural crops such as cucumber, bitter gourd, brinjal, etc. in adjacent fields were visited by the same species of flower visitors. Hence, if planted near the agricultural fields, Ocimum sp. could attract pollinating insects for enhancing crop productivity.

Keywords

Agricultural Crops, Foraging Rhythm, Non-Apis Bees, Ocium basilicum.
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  • Foraging Rhythm of Bees in Relation to Flowering of Sweet Basil, Ocimum basilicum L.

Abstract Views: 236  |  PDF Views: 63

Authors

D. P. Abrol
Division of Entomology, S.K. University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Main Campus Chatha, Jammu 180 009, India
Uma Shankar
Division of Entomology, S.K. University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Main Campus Chatha, Jammu 180 009, India
Debjyoti Chatterjee
Division of Entomology, S.K. University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Main Campus Chatha, Jammu 180 009, India

Abstract


Sixteen species of insects belonging to four families of Hymenoptera visited flowers of Ocimum basilicum. Among them, non-Apis bees represented 85% of all flower visitors. Nectar was the main attractant for floral visitors. Besides Ocimum, agricultural crops such as cucumber, bitter gourd, brinjal, etc. in adjacent fields were visited by the same species of flower visitors. Hence, if planted near the agricultural fields, Ocimum sp. could attract pollinating insects for enhancing crop productivity.

Keywords


Agricultural Crops, Foraging Rhythm, Non-Apis Bees, Ocium basilicum.

References





DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv113%2Fi12%2F2359-2362