Species Composition and Foraging Dynamics of Bee Pollinators on Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek in the Semi-arid Region of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

Abstract

Pollinators play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem stability and contributing to global food production, with nearly 87% of the world's food crops relying on them. Mungbean, a significant pulse crop in India, can benefit from understanding its pollination dynamics, despite being self-pollinated, to enhance crop productivity and ecological sustainability. The present study evaluated the abundance and the foraging behavior of bee pollinators on Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) Wilczek. during 2023-24 and 2024-25. Eleven bee species belonging to the order Hymenoptera and families Apidae and Megachilidae were recorded. Apis florea was the most abundant species (65 and 80 individuals during 2023-24 and 2024-25, respectively), whereas Amegilla niveocincta showed the lowest in abundance. The maximum time spent per flower was recorded in Xylocopa fenestrata (15.35±1.18 sec), while the minimum was observed in Amegilla niveocincta (1.10±1.03 sec). In contrast, the highest foraging rate was documented in Amegilla niveocincta (12.16±1.12 flowers/min) and the lowest in Xylocopa fenestrata (4.60±1.16 flowers/min). Foraging activity initiated between 0600-0740 h and ceased between 1630-1830 h, with species-specific peak activity occurring either during morning or afternoon hours. The findings indicate significant interspecific variation in foraging efficiency, emphasizing the potential role of Amegilla species in improving pollination of green gram.