Quantitative assessment of anthophilous insects associated with medicinally important weed plants of genus Cirsium

The act of pollination is the most significant plant phenomenon that allows for sexual reproduction. Medicinal plants are particularly useful and insects play a large part in the pollination process. It is therefore essential to analyse insect pollinators associated with medicinally important plants. The species of genus Cirsium is a weed plant with some very important medicinal properties. This study aimed to document updated information about the quantitative bio-spectrum of insect pollinators associated with the three species of genus Cirsium (C. arvense, C. verutum and C. vulgare). These plants were visited by 41 species of insects belonging to four orders i.e. Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera. In terms of total number of species, Apis cerana showed maximum abundance, whereas Eurema brigitta rubella showed minimum abundance. The diversity of insect visitors was higher in the morning session as compared to afternoon session.