Insect Pollination Studies on Pumpkin

Study was conducted on two pumpkin cultivars viz., C-1076 and C-1106, at CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar. A total of 42 insect species visited pumpkin flowers, out of these, 8 were hymenopterans, 7 lepidopterans, 7 dipterans, 3 hemipterans, 2 orthopterans, 14 coleopterans and one belonged to order odonata. Among these, Apis dorsata Fab., A. mellifera L., A. cerana Fab. and A. florea Fab. were found to be the most abundant pollinators. It was found that in both the pumpkin cultivars, diurnal abundance was maximum during 07.30 to 08.30 h of the day. All the four honey bees, A. dorsata, A. mellifera, A. cerana and A. florea initiated their activity early in the morning at 05.30, 06.15, 06.25 and 06.30 h, respectively and stopped their activity at 10.30, 10.20, 10.25 and 10.30 h of the day, respectively in C-1076. In cultivar C-1106, activity of honey bee species was initiated and stopped almost at same time as in cultivar C-1076. Honey bee species remained active throughout the flowering period for which flower opened and could not visit the flowers due to their closure.