Foraging Attributes of Insect Pollinators on Tulsi (Ocimum basilicum)

Pollination is an intricate relationship between plants and pollinators; this interaction is the best example of mutualism where pollinators utilize floral rewards while pollination accomplished on plants. Pollination ecology of tulsi (Ocimum basilicum) is poorly understood. Foraging attributes: foraging rate, foraging speed and transit time of pollinators are key performance indicator to determine their pollination efficiency. Foraging speed and foraging rate were recorded during blooming period with the help of stopwatch and transit time was calculated from foraging rate and foraging speed. The performance of seven pollinators; Apis florea, Amegilla cingulata, Megachile femoratella, Megachile sp., Apis cerana, Apis dorsata and Apis mellifera were evaluated on the basis of foraging attributes. Foraging rate, foraging speed and transit time varied during the blooming period week to week and pollinator species to species. The maximum foraging rate was observed with A. mellifera, maximum foraging speed was observed with A. florea and minimum transit time as well as wasted minimum time was calculated with A. mellifera. The maximum foraging rate, foraging speed and minimum transit time were observed with all the pollinators at the peak of blooming period. Based on foraging attributes A. mellifera performance was better than other pollinators on Tulsi.