Hymenopteran Fauna of Urban Nagpur, Koradi and Kamptee, District Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Megha Somkuwar
*
Department of Zoology, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur 440033, India.
Ravindra Bahekar
Department of Zoology, Taywade College, Mahadula-Koradi Nagpur 440012, Maharashtra, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Hymenopteran insects are ecologically important components of terrestrial ecosystems and include pollinators, predators, parasitoids and other functional groups. This study documented hymenopteran fauna in selected urban and peri-urban locations of Nagpur, Koradi and Kamptee, Maharashtra, India. Regular field visits were conducted from April 2025 to April 2026 across urban green spaces, semi-forested habitats and mixed agricultural-urban landscapes. Hymenopterans were observed and collected primarily by hand-picking and sweep-net sampling, with photographs also used for identification; selected specimens were preserved in 70% ethanol. The survey documented 32 hymenopteran entries representing 24 genera and seven families. Formicidae constituted the largest recorded component, followed by Vespidae and Apidae, whereas Sphecidae, Chalcididae, Mutillidae and Pompilidae were represented by fewer records. Differences in occurrence were observed among localities, with urban green and wetland-associated areas supporting several ant, bee and wasp taxa. These findings provide a descriptive baseline inventory for the surveyed parts of Nagpur District. Further standardised sampling, taxonomic validation and season-specific observations are needed to clarify the distribution and temporal occurrence of Hymenoptera in the region.
Keywords: Hymenoptera, urban biodiversity, urban green spaces, peri-urban habitats