A preliminary study on hymenopteran diversity in university of agricultural sciences campus, Dharwad

Abstract

In the present study, total of 30 hymenopterans with 30 genera and 28 species spread over nine families were recorded in the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) campus, Dharwad. Wasps were recorded to be dominant with 18 species belonging to six families. The family Vespidae was dominant with six species of wasps followed by Ichneumonidae and Sphecidae with four species each, Pompiliidae with two species and Scoliidae and Evaniidae with one species each. Among eight species of bees, Apidae and Megachilidae consisted of four species each, whereas four species of ants belonged to Formicidae family. Presence of rich vegetation, occurrence of flowering plants, large trees and calm environment in the campus appears to favour the insect diversity in the UAS campus, Dharwad.