2020 Vol.26 No.2 PP 329-335
https://doi.org/10.33451/florafauna.v26i2pp329-335
The foraging activity of Carpenter bee, Xylocopa fenestrata on the major crops of Eastern Rajasthan, India
Ghanshyam Kachhawa, *Santosh Kumar Charan and Pankaj Nagar 1
Bee Biodiversity Laboratory,
Department of Zoology, University of Rajasthan,
JAIPUR, INDIA.
1Department of Statistics,
University of Rajasthan,
JAIPUR, INDIA
*Corresponding Author :
Email : unirajskcharan@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
The foraging activity of Xylocopa fenestrata was studied for analyzing its role in the pollination of plants to enhance crop
production in the Chomu tehsil of Rajasthan, India. Xylocopa fenestrata were collected by hand sweeping net and by implanting
artificial carpenter bee nests .The foraging activity of Xylocopa fenestrata showed mutualistic relationship with different
plant species in the winter season in which Xylocopa fenestrata collected pollens and nectar from the flowers for nutrition
and helped the plants in the pollination. Xylocopa fenestrata behaved differently with eight experimental plants on the basis
of size, colour and odor of the flowers. It was found that foraging trip was affected by the different time intervals of the
day on the basis of temperature, humidity and wind velocity. Xylocopa fenestrata visited on more flowers and spent least time
per flower in the noon to increase foraging trip. It was observed foraging activity was affected by the climatic factors and
flower characters. Statistical data analysis by using MS Excel-2019, SPSS version-25 and R- confirmed the significance of
experimental result.
Key words : Carpenter bee, Fabricius, Foraging activity, Xylocopa fenestrata.