Abstract
Studies on the insect pollinators diversity and their relative abundance in
Eruca sativa
Mill. (Arugula) and
Brassica rapa
L. (field mustard) was carried out during spring season from February to April consecutively during all the three years of 2016–18. Insect pollinators observed belonged to four orders i.e. Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Coleoptera. A total of 20 major species of insect pollinators were recorded. The highest abundance of pollinator species belonged to Hymenoptera. The most prominent insect pollinator species were
Apis mellifera
followed by other three honey bee species of
A. cerana
,
A. florea
, and
A. dorsata
respectively. Some species of solitary bees were also recorded. From Diptera, four species of syrphid fly and one species from Muscidae family were also recorded. Insect pollinators recorded from order Lepidoptera were
Pieris brassicae
,
Vanessa cardui
, and
Papilio demoleus
. Lady bird beetle
Coccinella septempunctata
was recorded from Coleoptera order as occasional visitor. It was noticed that
E. sativa
attracted more insect pollinators than
B. rapa
which may be attributed to different amount and chemical properties of nectar, with number of pollen grains, and flower canopy of both crops. Further studies are needed to confirm the reasons for higher pollinator visitation to
E. sativa
than
B. rapa
through chemical analysis of nectar, amount of pollens, flower physiology and phenology of both crops.