Deepika Shandil’s scientific contributions

This study evaluated the insect biodiversity within the Thunag region of the Seraj valley in Himachal Pradesh. Comprehensive sampling from January 2022 to August 2023 yielded a total of 1136 arthropods encompassing 87 species across 11 orders and 50 families. Lepidoptera was the most dominant order contributing 31.87%, represented by 362 insects belonging to 30 species and 15 families followed by Coleoptera (30.90%). Mantodea, Megaloptera and Dermaptera showed the least abundance each represented by a single species. Diverse population of beneficial insects belonging to the order Odonata and Hymenoptera. Shannon’s index value was highest for Lepidoptera (2.58) that signify this order’s remarkable diversity closely trailed by Coleoptera and Hemiptera. Margalef index and Simpson’s index, ranging from 0.00 to 2.38 and 0.44 to 1.00, respectively underscore the region’s high species richness and diversity.

Insect pollinators are found to be highly significant in enhancing the quality fruit production and productivity. The experiment was conducted during April–May 2020 and 2021 at Dr Y. S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh to determine the pollination indices of significant insect pollinators visiting pomegranate (Punica granatum L.). The data on pooled basis from two years revealed that Bombus haemorrhoidalis visited most number of flowers during the day (4.96 flowers/min) followed by Apis mellifera (4.24), Apis cerana (3.95), Apis dorsata (3.76) and Episyrphus balteatus (3.09). The time spent on each flower was maximum by A. cerana (17.10 sec/flower) followed by E. balteatus (17.04 sec), A. dorsata (14.20 sec), A. mellifera (13.07 sec) and haemorrhoidalis (5.36 sec) irrespective of different day hours. A. mellifera (5.43 bees/m2/2 min) activity was maximum followed by A. cerana (5.06), E. balteatus (2.91 visitors/m2/2 min), B. haemorrhoidalis (1.72) and A. dorsata (1.37). Data on loose pollen grains for the two years revealed that A. dorsata adhered maximum number of loose pollen grains (357.00 thousand) followed by B. haemorrhoidalis (283.00 thousand), A. mellifera (98.00 thousand), cerana (41.00 thousand) and solitary bees (28.00 thousand). A. mellifera scored highest pollination index and A. dorsata scored least pollination index. A. mellifera, A. cerana and B. haemorrhoidalis are the primary pollinators that increase pomegranate pollination efficiency whereas A. dorsata, E. baltaeatus and solitary bees are supplementary insects improving pollination in various crops including pomegranate. A. mellifera, A. cerana, B. haemorrhoidalis and A. dorsata were main foragers of pomegranate flowers ensuring effective and efficient pollination.