OCCURRENCE OF BEE FAUNA AND EXTENT OF POLLINATION IN INSECTICIDE SPRAYED ECOSYSTEM OF CASHEW

摘要

In the cashew ecosystem, low activities of bees on cashew were observed. Two groups of bees (halictid and honey bees) constantly visit fresh flowers. Among them, halictid bee, Pseudapsis oxyheloiJes (Smith) was dominant and mainly collect pollen frommale flowers and pollen and nectar from hermaphrodite flowers within 2-5 seconds/flower. It had maximum pollen load on body hairs as well as corbiculae of legs. During off-season halictid bees sustain on herbaceous weeds and shrub existing in the same ecosystem. The other halictid observed were Laxioglossum sp. and one unidentified species. Apis cerena indica E and A. florea F. were common among honeybees, whereas A. dorsala E was very rarely sighted. However, all above-mentioned bees were observed as exclusrve nectar feeders. The stingless bee, Trigona irridipennis Smith was found collecting both nectar and pollen like P. oxybeloides. Hut the pollen load on the corbiculae of legs observed was slimy in nature. The insecticidal spraying with carbaryl (0.1%) and I- cyhalothrin (0.003 & 0.004%) has not affected the extent of pollination.