Diversity of insect foragers and effect of carpenter bee, Xylocopa fenestrata F. on pollination of ridge gourd

The foraging activity of insect pollinators visiting ridge gourd was observed, and four orders Hymenoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera and Hemiptera were identified. The Hymenoptera included nine species (Xylocopa fenestrate, X. leucothorax, Apis cerana, Solenopsis geminate, Polystis haebreus, Vespa orientalis, Sphecodes fumipennis, Pompilus bracatus and Thersilochus sp. and Diptera, Lepidoptera and Hemiptera included with single species such as Musca domestica, Papilio demoleus, and Cordius brunneus, respectively. The foraging rate was much higher early in the morning than evening. The foraging behaviour of Xylocopa fenestrata such as frequency of flower visit, pollen load per trip, time taken per trip and time spent per flower were observed showing significant differences.