Vol. 9, Special Issue 2, Part E (2025)

The study investigates the diversity and abundance of bees visiting the Ankol (Alangium salvifolium) plant in the foothills of Mount Abu, Rajasthan, a semi-arid region with significant ecological diversity. The present study was based on surveys conducted during the flowering seasons of Ankol from March to May in both 2021 and 2022 in the foothills of Mount Abu. Observations were conducted during the flowering season to document bee activity, species diversity, and their influence on the reproductive success of Ankol. Alangium salvifolium is a significant medicinal plant known for its diverse bioactive compounds. These compounds exhibit a wide range of pharmacological properties, including antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antiarthritic, antiprotozoal, antihypertensive, and cardioprotective effects. These attributes make A. salvifolium a valuable resource for traditional medicine and modern pharmaceutical research.

A total of 19 bee species were recorded visiting Ankol (Alangium salvifolium) during the flowering seasons of 2021 and 2022, including Apis cerana, Apis dorsata, Apis florea, Amegilla cingulata, A. dizona, A. violacea, A. zonata, Ceratina bighami, C. smaragdula, Tetragonula iridipennis, Thryeus remosus, Xylocopa fenestrata, X. latipes, Nomia crassipes, N. elliotii, Pseudapis oxybeloides, Megachile cephalotes, M. bicolor, and M. gathela. The identified bee species belong to three families: Apidae, Halictidae, and Megachilidae. Among them, Apis florea was the most abundant, constituting about 16.12% of the total bee population, while Nomia elliotii was the least abundant, representing only about 0.64% of the total population in the study areas. The study highlights the crucial ecological role of bees in the pollination of Ankol, emphasizing the importance of conserving these pollinators to ensure the sustainability of plant reproduction and biodiversity.