Pollinators Diversity and Bumblebee Abundance in Rawalpindi/Islamabad and Naran Kaghan Valley, Pakistan

Abstract

Indigenous bumblebee Bombus haemorrhoidalis, the only Bombus of Lower Northern Pakistan plays a significant role in wild floral pollination. Present study compared the relative abundance and diversity of B. haemorrhoidalis with other insect pollinators. Monthly population level field surveys were conducted from Rawalpindi/Islamabad and Naran Kaghan Valley during 2012 and 2013. Hymenopteran insect pollinators were the most abundant taxa with six species followed by Lepidoptera with five.  Syrphus species (Dipteran) were recorded with maximum abundance after B. haemorrhoidalis from all study locations. Pollinator diversity indices were at their highest in Naran and F9 Park (Islamabad) areas. Such ecological information are important for possible utilization in further biological experimentations, commercial pollination services and environmental conservation. This study also focuses the importance to conserve the only Bombus species in these areas.