Diversity of pollinators in coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.)

Abstract

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is an important seed spice crop dependent on diverse insect pollinators for effective pollination and seed set. The present investigation on the diversity and abundance of insect pollinators was carried out during summer 2025 at the Research Farm, Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture, Latur, Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani, Maharashtra. Observations were recorded at two-hour intervals from 06:00 to 18:00 hr on the coriander variety Wai Dhanna under field conditions. A total of 28 insect species belonging to six orders (viz., Hymenoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, and Odonata) were recorded visiting coriander flowers. Hymenoptera emerged as the most dominant order (85.55%) represented by eight species, including Apis florea, stingless bee, Apis dorsata, Vespa tropica, Polistes sp., Eurytoma sp., Hylaeus sp., and Lasioglossum sp. Among these, A. florea and stingless bees were the most abundant, together accounting for 81.2% of total pollinator visits. Diptera (4.73%), Coleoptera (3.92%), Lepidoptera (2.69%), Hemiptera (2.29%), and Odonata (0.82%) contributed as secondary or occasional visitors. Shannon-Wiener diversity (H), species evenness (J) and Margalef’s species richness (Dmg) indices indicated that Stingless bees (H = 0.364; J = 0.109) and A. florea (H = 0.348; J = 0.104) were the most dominant and uniform contributors. Moderate diversity and evenness were observed in species such as Hylaeus sp., Episyrphus balteatus, Eupeodes fumipennis, and Musca domestica, while Apis dorsata exhibited minimal contribution (H = 0.006; J = 0.002). Margalef’s richness index revealed highest species richness in Hymenoptera (7.859), followed by Coleoptera (5.859) and Lepidoptera (4.859), with Diptera and Hemiptera showing moderate richness (3.859 each) and Odonata the least (0.859). These findings confirmed the pivotal role of Hymenopteran bees, particularly A. florea and Stingless bees, in coriander pollination under Latur conditions. The predominance of Hymenoptera highlights their ecological significance, adaptability to coriander floral traits, and essential contribution to pollination success, yield improvement, and maintenance of agroecosystem stability.