Exploring of bumble bee fauna and its biogeographical affiliation in district Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

To explore the diversity of Bumble bee fauna of District Swat surveys were carried out from April to September 2015. To find out a complete profile of a Bumble bee fauna of the study area sampling was carried out at seven different locations including Madyan, Matta, Qalagai, Kalam, Utror, Charbagh and Mankyal. During the surveys a total of 314 specimens of bumble bees were collected belonging to three different species namely, Bombus rufofasciatus, Bombus asciaticus and Bombus haemorrhoidalis. Bombus rufofasciatus was the most abundant species reported and represented 37 % of the total collection, while Bombus asciaticus presented 35.70 % and Bombus haemorrhoidalis 27.30 %. It was the very first study of its kind in the study area, and further exploratory studies are recommended to increase the understanding of the ecology of the bumble bee fauna.