COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AND ECOLOGICAL DOMINANCE OF HYMENOPTERAN POLLINATORS IN MULTI-CROP AGROECOSYSTEMS OF WESTERN MAHARASHTRA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65009/w8nnan32Keywords:
Hymenoptera, Pollinator diversity, Agroecosystem ecology, Floral visitors, Species richness, Agricultural biodiversity,,Abstract
The diversity of hymenopteran insects directly influences pollination efficiency, ecosystem resilience, and
agricultural productivity. The present investigation evaluated the community composition, dominance
patterns, and spatial distribution of hymenopteran pollinators associated with major cultivated crops including
sunflower, niger, mustard, rice, and soybean in Western Maharashtra, India. A total of 2,788 hymenopteran
individuals belonging to 19 species under seven families were documented from sixteen agricultural sites.
Family Apidae emerged as the overwhelmingly dominant group contributing 72.27% of the total abundance,
followed by Ichneumonidae (7.39%), Vespidae (7.35%), Mutillidae (5.81%), Sphecidae (3.05%), Colletidae
(2.15%), and Chrycididae (1.97%). Species richness was highest in Apidae with six species, whereas Vespidae
contained five species and Ichneumonidae three species. The remaining families showed comparatively lower
species representation. Spatial assessment demonstrated considerable variation among study sites, with Site F
recording maximum hymenopteran abundance (219 individuals), while Site N showed the lowest abundance
(135 individuals). Social bees including the Western honey bee, giant honey bee, and Indian honey bee
constituted the principal floral visitors throughout the study period, indicating their ecological dominance
within the agroecosystem. Predatory and parasitoid wasps such as potter wasps, mud daubers, and ichneumon
wasps also contributed significantly to floral visitation and biological regulation of insect pests. The study
reveals that diversified cropping systems support a structurally complex hymenopteran community and
emphasizes the importance of pollinator-friendly agricultural practices for maintaining ecosystem services in
tropical agro-landscapes.
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