author(s)
Naveen Bakshi, Manju Devi and Harish Kumar Sharma

abstract
The present study was conducted to determine the pollination indices and foraging behaviour of hive bees and most frequented syrphid (Episyrphus balteatus) in sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) during 2014-15. The present investigation revealed that Apis mellifera activity was maximum (8.24 bees/m²/5 min) followed by A. cerana (5.71) and E. balteatus (3.75), statistically being different from all insect visitors. A. mellifera visited higher number of flowers (6.46) than A. cerana (6.07) and E. balteatus (3.72). A. cerana spent significantly more time (10.7) per flower compared A. mellifera (8.22) and E. balteatus (5.94). Maximum numbers of loose pollen grains (4753.33) were adhered to the body of A. mellifera. A. mellifera scored highest pollination index (17.60) followed by A. cerana (12.33) and E. balteatus (6.22) on cherry bloom under open pollination.