Muhammad Adnan Bodlah¹, Yasir Niaz¹, Muhammad Tariq Rasheed², Ammara Gull e Fareen²,

Muhammad Nawaz¹, Kamran Ikram¹, Muhammad Mohsin Waqas¹, Bilal Rasool³,

Imran Bodlah^2*

¹Fareed Biodiversity Conservation Centre, Department of Agricultural Engineering, Khawaja Fareed University of Engineering and Information Technology, Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, Pakistan

²Insect Biodiversity and Conservation Group, Department of Entomology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

³Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Government College University, Faisalabad

Abstract

Global decline in Apis bee population has shifted research towards the exploration of Non-Apis bees. A lot of work has been done on the role of Non-Apis bees in pollination services, stability of ecosystem and their synergistic effects on pollination of Apis bee. These aspects have not yet been studied regarding the local Non-Apis bees fauna of Pakistan due to lack of basic research on these bees. Layyah being the multi crop area was selected as study area for the exploration of these bees. Current research work was aimed to explore the Non-Apis bee fauna of district Layyah. Surveys were carried out from different localities during 2017-18. Bee’s specimens were collected by net sweeping methods, brought to the laboratory and identified up to species level by following standard protocols of identification. Macrophotography of identified species was done using high magnification power microscope attached with a camera. Herein eleven Non-Apis bee species are recorded for the first time from various localities of district Layyah. Present baseline research work will be helpful in future to manage bee’s population and uplifting of the bee pollination for the better crop yields in the current surveyed areas of the Punjab province of the Pakistan. Results of this research may be used to study the role of these bees on foraging behaviors, pollination efficiency and ecosystem stability by local Apis bee. Individual role of all these bees regarding the pollination of various crops, fruits vegetables may be further explored in the region.

 Keywords: Non Apis, Bees, Apidae, Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract Global decline in Apis bee population has shifted research towards the exploration of Non-Apis bees. A lot of work has been done on the role of Non-Apis bees in pollination services, stability of ecosystem and their synergistic effects on pollination of Apis bee. These aspects have not yet been studied regarding the local Non-Apis bees fauna of Pakistan due to lack of basic research on these bees. Layyah being the multi crop area was selected as study area for the exploration of these bees. Current research work was aimed to explore the Non-Apis bee fauna of district Layyah. Surveys were carried out from different localities during 2017-18. Bee’s specimens were collected by net sweeping methods, brought to the laboratory and identified up to species level by following standard protocols of identification. Macrophotography of identified species was done using high magnification power microscope attached with a camera. Herein eleven Non-Apis bee species are recorded for the first time from various localities of district Layyah. Present baseline research work will be helpful in future to manage bee’s population and uplifting of the bee pollination for the better crop yields in the current surveyed areas of the Punjab province of the Pakistan. Results of this research may be used to study the role of these bees on foraging behaviors, pollination efficiency and ecosystem stability by local Apis bee. Individual role of all these bees regarding the pollination of various crops, fruits vegetables may be further explored in the region.   Keywords: Non Apis, Bees, Apidae, Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan   How to cite this:      Bodlah MA, Niaz Y, Rasheed MT, Fareen AGE, Nawaz M, Ikram K, Waqas MM, Rasool B and Bodlah I, 2020. Contribution to non-Apis bee fauna of family Apidae (Hymenoptera) from Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan. Asian J. Agric. Biol. 8(x): x-x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.35495/ajab.2020.04.227