Diversity and relative abundance of insect pollinators of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) in North Kashmir, India

Abstract

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), one of the earliest domesticated vegetables, is a highly cross-pollinated crop that depends on insect-mediated pollination for optimal fruit set and yield. Understanding the diversity of its pollinators is therefore vital for sustainable crop production and ecological balance. Field observations during 2023 at the experimental farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, SKUAST-K Wadura documented 15 insect species belonging to five orders— Diptera (6), Hymenoptera (5), Lepidoptera (2), Coleoptera (1), and Odonata (1).. Among these, Eristalis arbustorum emerged as the most dominant species, exhibiting the highest relative abundance (0.121), diversity indices in terms of Shannon-Weiner diversity index (0.256) and species evenness (0.094), while highest species richness was recorded in Diptera (0.979), which was followed by Hymenoptera (0.783), Lepidoptera (0.196), Odonata (0.000) and Coleoptera (0.000). The findings highlight the crucial role of dipteran and hymenopteran pollinators in cucumber pollination systems. Promoting their conservation and habitat management can significantly contribute to pollination efficiency, improved productivity, and the long-term sustainability of cucurbit cultivation in the region.