Diversity of pollinator bees from Paithan taluka of Aurangabad district (M.S.) India

Abstract

The survey on diversity of pollinator bee was conducted from different locations of Paithan taluka. Total twenty two (22) bee species belonging to eleven (11) genera were identified as pollinators. Out of these, four (4) bee species were honeybees from Genus Apis and eighteen (18) species were solitary bees. Eighteen (18) species of solitary bees were dominant pollinators, during mid monsoon to winter season and was followed by bumblebees, wild bees and honey bees. In summer season honeybee species Apis florea F., Apis dorsata F., Apis mellifera L. and Apis cerana indica F. were the most dominant pollinators and only few species of solitary bees were observed. Amongst the honey bee species Apis florea F. was the most dominant bee species, which is widely distributed and is followed by Apis dorsata F., an introduced species Apis mellifera L. and Apis cerana indica F.