Bombus haemorrhoidalis, a native Himalayan bumble bee, plays a vital role in pollinating both wild and cultivated plants. This study investigated its foraging dynamics, floral preferences and diurnal activity patterns within a mid-Himalayan agroecosystem during 2022 and 2023. Using field surveys and infrared camera monitoring, we recorded visitation rates, flower traits (colour, corolla length), plant types and environmental variables. A total of 52 flowering species across 34 families were documented. B. haemorrhoidalis exhibited a marked preference for white flowers (36.53%), long corolla types (71.15%), and predominantly foraged on wild (44.23%) and ornamental (40.38%) plant species favouring families such as Asteraceae (11.54%), Rosaceae (7.69%) and Fabaceae (5.77%). Foraging activity peaked in the late afternoon (1600–1800 h), averaging 15.18 outgoing and 17.12 incoming foragers per 5 min, with reduced activity during midday. Activity showed a positive correlation with relative humidity and a negative correlation with temperature. These findings contribute novel insights into the foraging ecology of B. haemorrhoidalis, underscoring the importance of conserving native floral resources to sustain pollination services in mid-hill Himalayan landscapes.
Kaushal et al. (2025) studied this question.