Foraging behaviour, abundance and rank abundance of insect pollinators on plum crop (Prunus domestica) in Himalayan regions

Abstract

Plum (Prunus domestica) is self-unfruitful, requires cross-pollination by insects to produce fruit. The demand for plum exceeds the supply due to low product yields that have resulted from a decrease in pollination services. Although plum is grown in Kashmir valley, but little is known about the correspondence between pollinator abundance and pollinator services for this plant genus. In this study, daily activity patterns, hourly abundance, ranks abundance and pollination effectiveness of insects visiting Prunus domestica were investigated. Highest of 41 species, belonging to 5 orders, 19 families and 28 genera visiting insects were identified to interact with plum flowers. Conducting χ2-test, the order Hymenoptera (Mann-Whitney U test), family Halictidae and genus Lasioglossum were found dominant among all pollinators observed. Refraction curve were made and species wise sample count were plotted. The daily activity peaks of the five visiting insects were between 10:00 and 14:00, which may have been related to the pattern of floral resource production (particularly nectar availability). Therefore, the wild flower visitors that pollinate wild and cultivated plum plants should be protected in Kashmir valley to enhance the crop production.