SKUAST Journal of Research
Open Access
  • Year: 2025
  • Volume: 27
  • Issue: 1

Exploring different medicinal, aromatic and ornamental plants as a vital floral resource for the sustainment of Bombus albopleuralis (Friese, 1916)

  • Author:
  • Ishfaq Majeed Shah1,*, Ishtiyaq Ahad1, Raihana Habib Kanth2, Mohd Ayoob Mantoo1, Tauseef Ahmad Bhat2, Fehim Jeelani Wani3
  • Total Page Count: 6
  • Page Number: 121 to 126

1Division of Entomology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (India)

2Division of Agronomy, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (India)

3Division of Agricultural Economics and Statistics, Faculty of Agriculture, Wadura -193 201, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir (India)

*e-mail: ishfaqskuast@gmail.com

Online published on 25 April, 2025.

Abstract

This study explores the floral preferences of Bombus albopleuralis (Friese, 1916) on medicinal, aromatic and ornamental plants at Regional cum Facilitation Centre, Northern Region-II (RCFC NR-II) field, Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-K Wadura Sopore. Field observations revealed that Bombus albopleuralis preferentially visits specific plant species, underscoring their importance as key floral resources. The species exhibited strong floral preferences, selectively visiting 27 plant species across nine families based on the flower traits, even when other floral resources were also available. These findings highlight the ecological value of these plants in supporting pollinator populations and suggest their potential role in sustainable agricultural and conservation practices.

Keywords

Aromatic plants, Bombus albopleuralis, Floral resources, Medicinal plants, Pollination