UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Pollination is an important ecosystem service that directly influences fruit set, seed production, and yield in cucurbit crops. Ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula L.), a monoecious and predominantly cross-pollinated vegetable crop, depends largely on insect pollinators because of its short flowering duration and limited pollen viability. The present study was conducted during 2023-24 at the Vegetable Research Station, Agricultural Research Institute, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, India, to investigate the diversity and abundance of insect pollinators associated with ridge gourd flowers. Pollinator sampling was conducted using water pan traps, sweep netting, and an aspirator from 10% to 90% flowering. A total of 428 insect pollinators belonging to 22 species, 10 families, and three orders were recorded. Hymenoptera was the dominant order, accounting for 88.78% of total pollinator abundance, followed by Diptera (6.78%) and Lepidoptera (4.44%). Apidae (33.88%) and Formicidae (33.87%) were the most abundant families, followed by Halictidae (18.69%). Among the recorded species, Nomia sp. was the most abundant pollinator (18.69%), whereas Xylocopa pubescens, Colotis danae, and Belenois aurota were the least abundant species (0.47% each). The pollinator community was dominated by bees and other hymenopteran insects, indicating their important role in ridge gourd pollination. These findings provide baseline information on the diversity and composition of insect pollinators associated with ridge gourd and emphasise the importance of pollinator-friendly crop management practices for conserving pollinator communities and supporting sustainable crop production.