Diversity of bees on mustard in Bihar

Abstract

Insects provide over 80% of pollination services globally, with hymenopteran pollinators, particularly bees, playing a crucial role in crop production. This study focuses on the diversity of bee pollinators in mustard (Brassica spp.) crops in Samastipur, Bihar, assessing their impact on seed production and the influence of environmental conditions on their abundance. Over the flowering season, seven bee species from three families-Apidae, Halictidae, and Andrenidae-were identified. Apis mellifera, Apis dorsata, Apis cerana, and Apis florea were the most prevalent, while Steganomus was observed as a rare species. The Shannon-Wiener index for bee diversity was 1.38, and the Simpson index was 0.72, indicating moderate diversity and evenness. The study underscores the importance of maintaining diverse pollinator communities for sustainable mustard production and highlights the need for conservation strategies to address threats to pollinator populations.