Role of Non-cultivated Flowering Plants in Conservation of Pollinators

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to emphasize the importance of non-cultivated plants/weeds in North Bangalore, Karnataka from October 2014 to March 2015 in three locations. The pollinators were collected using sweep net method on cultivated and non-cultivated flowering plants. A total of 22 non-cultivated plant species and 11 cultivated plant species were observed on which 85 and 56 pollinator species were collected respectively belonging to the four families (Apidae, Halictidae, Megachilidae and Scoliidae) of Hymenoptera and two families (Syrphidae and Bombyliidae) of Diptera. It is found that association of pollinators were more towards non-cultivated plants than cultivated plants. Among cultivated flowering plants, Ocimum americanum was highly attractive followed by Field bean and Lavandula angustifolia. Among non-cultivated flowering plants, Alternanthera sessilis was highly attractive on which majority were Dipterans followed by Leucas aspera and Hyptis suaveolens indicating the importance of non-cultivated flowering plants/weeds in conservation of pollinators.