From District Shigar, Gilgit Baltistan

Pure Appl. Biol., 10(3):651-656, September, 2021 http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2021.100067

Research Article

Altitudinal diversity of tribe Bombini (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from district Shigar, Gilgit Baltistan

Sakhawat Ali1*, Sajid Ali Shah1, Imran Khatri1, Asad Rajput1, Ghulam Qadeer Junejo1 and Riaz Hussain2 1. Department of Entomology, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam-Pakistan 2. Department of Entomology, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi-Pakistan *Corresponding author’s email: [email protected] Citation Sakhawat Ali, Sajid Ali Shah, Imran Khatri, Asad Rajput, Ghulam Qadeer Junejo and Riaz Hussain. Altitudinal diversity of tribe Bombini (Hymenoptera: Apidae) from district Shigar, Gilgit Baltistan. Pure and Applied Biology. Vol. 10, Issue 3, pp651-656. http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2021.100067 Received: 30/11/2019 Revised: 20/10/2020 Accepted: 29/10/2020 Online First: 24/11/2020 Abstract Bumble bees plays an important role in pollination of crops and environmental indicators. Identification of bumble bees are also important as different species plays various role in ecosystem. Present study was conducted to know the altitudinal diversity of tribe Bombini. Samples were collected from various localities of district Shigar of Baltistan Division. Identification were done at Insect Systematic Laboratory of Entomology department, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam. During present study 7 species are recorded under single genus Bombus, from the collection sites viz, B. asiaticus (Morawitz, 1875), B. melanurus (Lepeletier, 1835), B. semenovianus (Skorikov, 1914), B. tunicatus (Smith, 1852), B. ferganicus (Radoszkowski, 1893), B. lucorum (Linnaeus, 1761) and B. rufofasciatus (Smith, 1852). The list of host plants are recorded as, Euphorbia wallichia, Cirsium arvense, Carduus edelbergii, Lavatera cashmeriana, Cirsium arvense, Melilotus officinale, Taraxacum officinale, Ipomea tricolor, Helianthus annuus, Digitalis purpurea, Zinnia elegans and Fagopyrum esculentum. This study will proved helpful to recognize the bumble species as pollinator of different crops of the region for conservation. Keywords: Bombini; Bumble bees; Bombus; Pollinators; Shigar Introduction functioning of agricultural ecosystems of The Bombini are a tribe of large crops and wild flowers. Plant pollinated by bristly apid bees which contain a single Bees contribute 30% of food consumption living genus, Bombus, the bumblebees, and by human in America. [4]. Thirteen species some extinct genera such as Calyptapis and reported in Pakistan [13] all of them are Oligobombus. The tribe was described indigenous to northern Pakistan, having the by Latreille in 1802. The genus Bombus, elevation ranges from 2291m to 5344m includes around 260 species of eusocial both from agricultural and non-agricultural bees, mostly distributed in temperate and land [5]. Species of tribe Bombini can feed cold regions of the northern hemisphere [1]. in hostile weather conditions, which are not Agricultural crops vary in their pollination suitable to honeybees and solitary bees [6]. requirements and rely on different insect These perform an important role in pollinator species [2, 3]. Bumblebees play ecological services in high altitude areas of an important role as pollinator in Pakistan [7]. From Himalayan region 160

Published by Bolan Society for Pure and Applied Biology 651 Ali et al. floral host plants has been recorded [8]. latitude and 75° 42′59″E longitude and Tribe Bombini are mostly found in high covers an area of 4373 sq. km. Elevation attitude regions [12]. Species of tribe above sea level is 2, 260 to 8611 m (Fig. 1) Bombini can found from 1000m-5500m. [10]. It borders with China surrounded by Bumble bees construct nest in different K2 between the territories [11]. Present habitat, often in abandoned rodent burrows, study was conducted to explore the bumble in the ground, above ground and in tall bee fauna as pollinator, since identification grasses [9]. Shigar district is located in the plays a vital role towards the knowledge of north of Skardu. It is part of the central pollinating species behavior and their Karakorum ranges. It lies at 25° 25′32″ N extent of benefits.

Figure 1. Map of study area

652 Pure Appl. Biol., 10(3):651-656, September, 2021 http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2021.100067

Materials and Methods Host plants For present research, bumble bees were Euphorbia wallichia, Cirsium arvense, collected through sweep net from various Carduus edelbergii and Lavatera localities of district Shigar, Gilgit Baltistan. cashmeriana Specimens were killed by using potassium 3. Bombus lucorum (Linnaeus, 1761) cyanide and pinned by standard Diagnosis entomological pins. After pining, they were Head black, thorax proximal portion yellow labeled with information of locality, and mid with black pubescens. Upper 1/3 of collection date, collector name, and the host abdomen yellow ochraceous, blackish in tree. Identification were done at Insect the middle and with white pubescence at the Systematic Laboratory, Department of posterior end of abdomen. Hind and Entomology, Sindh Agriculture University forewings light brown and transparent. Tandojam by [15] colour pattern key of Material examined [16]. Pakistan: 20♀, Gilgit Baltistan Prov., Images of habitus (adult) were taken by Chutron, Haiderabad, Molto, Tissar, using high pixel camera, and 350 k pixel, 24.Viii.2019, S.Ali, USB camera fitted on microscopes Host plants Labomed CSM2 (20X and 40X), used for Melilotus officinale, Taraxacum officinale, genetalia images. Ipomea tricolor, Helianthus annuus, Results Digitalis purpurea. Euphorbia wallichia, 1. Bombus asiaticus Morawitz, 1875 Cirsium arvense, Carduus edelbergii, Diagnosis Lavatera cashmeriana and Zinnia elegans Body densely robust with pubescence, head 4. Bombus melanurus Lepeletier, 1835 with black pubescence; antennae elbow Diagnosis shape, thorax with white pubescence and Head black, thorax completely yellowish, black in middle; forewings light brown and half of the abdomen yellow with blackish transparent hindwings, abdomen with brown markings in center, half of the sparse orange setae, densely black in abdomen posteriorly black. Forewing and middle and proximal end of abdomen hindwings light brown. yellowish orange pubescence [15]. Material examined Material examined Pakistan: 20♀, Gilgit Baltistan Prov., Pakistan: 23♀, Gilgit Baltistan Prov., Chutron, Haiderabad, Molto, Tissar 24. Alchori, Askoli, Kashmal, Kurfy, Viii. 2019, S.Ali, Monjong, Sildi, Sinu, Thadoro, Tissar, Host plants Yono, 24.Vii.2019, S.Ali, Wild Flower Melilotus officinale and Host plants Taraxacum officinale. Wild Flower, Ipomea tricolor, Lavatera 5. Bombus rufofasciatus Smith, 1852 cashmeriana and Zinnia elegans. Diagnosis 2. Bombus ferganicus Radoszkowski, Head pubescence black, thorax with row of 1893 white long setae at the anterior margin, rest Diagnosis of the thorax complete black. Half of the Head and thorax with yellow ochraceous abdomen black, posterior half of the pubescence, tarsi yellow coloured, and abdomen with row of white setae, yellow abdomen black dorsally, last segments and some orange setae present posteriorly. yellow ochraceous laterally. Hindwings Legs with long dense setae. Forewing and brownish hindwing light brown and transparent. Material examined Material examined Pakistan: 8♀, Gilgit Baltistan Prov., Askoli, Pakistan: 8♀, Gilgit Baltistan Prov., Askoli, Kurfy, Monjong 12.Viii.2019, S.Ali, Kurfy, Monjong, 12.Viii.2019, S.Ali,

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Host plants Discussion Fagopyrum esculentum, Euphorbia The present study area was ranged at the wallichia, Carduus edelbergii and altitude of 7000-10000 feet, the climate at Taraxacum officinale. various height also varies, and the 6. Bombus semenovianus (Skorikov, vegetation is also varies at different 1914) altitudes. During present study 7 species of Diagnosis tribe Bombini were recorded from different Head black, thorax with yellow dense locations of district Shigar. Collection were pubescence, 2/3 of the abdomen at the done in different timings from 8am to 5pm. anteriorly blackish, whereas, 1/3 of Most of them were active after 12pm. B. posterior portion of abdomen orange. rufofasciatus forages heavily in the Material examined afternoon, with restricted activity in the Pakistan: 16♀, Gilgit Baltistan Prov., early morning and late in the evening at Askoli, Kurfy, Monjong, Sinu Tissar. 11. high altitudes [17]. All species are Viii. 2019, S.Ali, previously reported from different localities Host plants of Gilgit Baltistan. Previously the bumble Fagopyrum esculentum, Wild Flower. bee fauna of present study area was not Euphorbia wallichia, Cirsium arvense and extensively studied. This study carried out Digitalis purpurea to explore the bumble bee fauna of district 7. Bombus tunicatus Smith, 1852 Shigar. [18] Reported 9 species from Diagnosis Hashupi, Shigar. Bombus branickii new Head with white pubescence, thorax with addition in bumble bee fauna of Pakistan black pubescence proximally, distally with was reported from Kharmang, Gilgit white setae. Major portion of the abdomen Baltistan [19]. Previously 13 species of covered with black setae, posterior part of bumble bee was recorded by [13] from the abdomen orange. Gilgit Baltistan. [14] Reported Bombus Material examined rufofasciatus, B. subtypicus, B. Pakistan, 30♀, Gilgit Baltistan Prov., kashmirensis, B. trifasciatus, and B. Alchori, Askoli, Braqchan, Churka, haemorrhoidalis first time from Naran Chutron, Haiderabad, Hashupi, Kashmal, Kaghan valley, Pakistan. Species recorded Kurfy, Monjong, Sildi, Sinu, Tissar,. 11. during present study were collected from Viii.2019, S.Ali, high elevations. Previously reported Host plants bumble bees of Pakistan was recorded from Fagopyrum esculentum, Wild Flower. high altitude regions like Gilgit Baltistan, Euphorbia wallichia, Cirsium arvense and Azad Kashmir and Swat Pakistan. Three Digitalis purpurea species of bumble bees namely Bombus Elevation wise distribution of Bumble rufofasciatus, Bombus asciaticus and bees in Shigar district Bombus haemorrhoidalis from swat. [20]. Five species were collected at the height of The study will proved helpful to identify the 9000 to 10000 ft include; Bombus bumble bee as pollinator and conservation semenovianus, Bombus rufofasciatus, in respective region. Bombus asiaticus, Bombus melanurus, Conclusion Bombus ferganicus; and four species from Present study revealed the occurrence of 7 8000 to 9000; Bombus semenovianus, species of bumble bees in surroundings of Bombus lucorum, Bombus asiaticus, district Shigar, Gilgit Baltistan. They prefer Bombus tunicatus; lastly, three species higher elevation and the raining seasons were recorded at the low altitude of 7000 – effect their active time, especially for 8000; Bombus tunicatus, Bombus asiaticus, collections. Bombus lucorum.

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