author(s)
Manoj Kumar and Chandreshwar Prasad Rai

abstract
The pollination diversity and foraging behaviour of insect pollinators on fennel (Foeniculum vulgare L.) revealed that the abundance of different insect visitors species showed that the mean population (No. of insect pollinator/m²/minute) of Apis melifera (11.87) was highest followed by Apis dorsata (8.53), Xylocopa fenestrata (7.07) and the least population of Apis florea being 4.87 was recorded among different insect foraging complex on fennel. This might be due to fact that more number of opened flower density were observed during mid flowering period and lower open flower density during initiation of bloom and near maturity of crop. The maximum population of insect visitors on fennel was observed at 1100-h (5.8) which decreased as the day progressed being 4.9 at 1300-h, 3.8 at 1500-h and minimum at 0700-h being 3.0. The foraging rate of Apis florea was maximum being 7.27 umbel/min followed by Apis mellifera (4.87), Xylocopa (4.67) and minimum in case of Apis dorsata (4.13). The minimum foraging rate was recorded during middle of flowering being 4.17umbel/min. The foraging speed of Apis dorsata was maximum being 15.74 seconds followed by Xylocopa (13.67), Apis mellifera (12.93) while minimum in case of Apis florea (8.74). The minimum foraging speed was recorded near the maturity of crop (9.42 seconds) indicating that less floral rewards were available to bees and thus insect pollinators spent less time to collect floral rewards to fulfil their food requirement.