Flower visitors and potential pollinating insects of Elaeocarpus angustifolius, the Rudraksha plant from India

Abstract

Studies on flower visitors and potential pollinating insects of Elaeocarpus angustifolius Bl., the Rudraksha plant from India have been carried out for the first time. A total of 19 species belonging to order Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and Hemiptera were recorded as visitors of the flowers or pollinating insects. These include 4 species of bees, 2 species of ants, 02 species of moths, 10 species of butterflies and 1 species of bug. Species of honey bees mainly Apis cerana indica and Apis florae and butterfly species like Rapala nissa nissa and Rapala varuna were assumed as the putative pollinating insects of Rudraksha plant under cultivation, while other insects were considered as flower visitors.