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VOL. 11, ISSUE 2 (2026)
Floral calendar and bee–plant interaction patterns in rural landscapes of Palghar District, Maharashtra, India
Authors
Vinod Borse, Dr. Sanjay Nikam
Abstract
Pollinators play a fundamental role in sustaining ecosystem services
and ensuring agricultural productivity, particularly in tropical agroecosystems
where both wild and cultivated plants depend on insect-mediated pollination.
The present study investigated the seasonal availability of floral resources
and the interaction patterns between flowering plants and honey bees in rural
landscapes of Palghar district, Maharashtra, India. Field observations were
conducted from June 2021 to December 2023 in two villages, Kaulale (Jawhar) and
Ganjad (Dahanu). Monthly surveys documented flowering plant species and their
interactions with three honey bee species: Apis dorsata, Apis florea, and
Apis cerana indica. During the study period, a total of 98 flowering plant
species belonging to several botanical families were recorded as bee forage
plants. Seasonal fluctuations in floral availability strongly influenced
pollinator visitation patterns. The highest bee activity was observed during
the monsoon and post-monsoon months (August–November), whereas relatively lower
visitation occurred during late winter and early summer. Certain plant species,
including Ocimum basilicum, Leucas aspera, Tridax procumbens,
Cocos nucifera, and Mangifera indica, received repeated visits
from multiple bee species and therefore functioned as important nectar and
pollen sources. Diversity indices revealed a highly diverse interaction network
with Shannon diversity (H′ ≈ 3.4), Simpson diversity (D ≈ 0.94), and evenness
(J ≈ 0.82). Network connectance (C ≈ 0.54) indicated a moderately connected and
generalized pollination system. The developed floral calendar also revealed
seasonal gaps in nectar and pollen availability during late winter and early
summer months. These findings highlight the importance of diverse floral
resources in maintaining pollinator stability in tropical agroecosystems.
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Pages:136-140
How to cite this article:
Vinod Borse, Dr. Sanjay Nikam "Floral calendar and bee–plant interaction patterns in rural landscapes of Palghar District, Maharashtra, India". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 11, Issue 2, 2026, Pages 136-140
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