Nesting behaviour and foraging characteristics of Andrena cineraria (Hymenoptera: Andrenidae)

Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences

Muneer Ahmad Sofi¹  Ivana Tlak Gajger²  Rizwan Rashid³  Samy Sayed⁴  Mudasir Hassan⁵  Mohamed El-Sharnouby⁶  Yahya Al Naggar⁷  Showket Ahmad Dar⁸  Sajad Hussain Mir⁹  Mohamed Salah^1,10 

[1] Corresponding authors at: Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology, Shalimar, Jammu and Kashmir 190025, India.;Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University 31527, Tanta, Egypt;Agriculture Extension Officer, Department of Agriculture, Jammu and Kashmir, India;Department of Biology, Turabah University College, Taif University, B.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia;Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia;Department of Entomology, Mountain Research Centre for Field Crops (MRCFC) Khudwani, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology, Jammu and Kashmir, India;Department of Entomology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Srinagar, FOA-Wadura Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir, India;Division of Entomology, KVK-Kargil-II (Zanskar), Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir, India;Division of Vegetable Science, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India;General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoherweg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany;

关键词: Andrena cineraria;    Behaviour;    Nest;    Foraging;    Landscape;    Density;   

DOI  :  

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The current studies were carried out in the three experimental locations of Kashmir valley during 2013 to 2016. The species Andrena cineraria formed the dense nest aggregations in plan grounds, barren lands and hilly areas near the fruit orchards and other landscapes with clay loam soil type. The species start flying and foraging in the orchards from April till July. The nests were allodalous, 29–36 cm in depth, with cells located obliquely around the main barrow. The nests were dense with a maximum density of 11.09 nests/m2 observed in landscapes of Budgam. The barrow diameters were found varying with depth from main entrance. The maximum barrow diameter recorded was 2.05 mm. At certain depth, the female constructs the first cell and the upper nest burrow is vertical and lower is oblique. The nest entrance is generally hidden under the tumulus. In the depth of average 30.48 cm, each cell directly opens to main burrow either alternately or unilaterally. The cell number, diameter, and length varied with depth. Foraging behaviour of A. cineraria on various fruit crops and other shrubs and social forestry trees were determined and the abundance, visitation rate, total visits and time spend per flower were found significant, especially on fruit crops. The significance of the studies is important for the melittologists, as it will help in the conservation of bee fauna. The study is also important in using this species for pollination purpose and would also help to detect and understand the possible pre-adaptation of species in temperate region of Kashmir valley.

【 授权许可】

Unknown