Evaluation Of Spatio-Temporal & Nectar Robbing Effect On Plant-Pollinator Interactions With Special Reference To Darjeeling District

Abstract

The consequences of nectar robbing, or the illegal collection of nectar, on plant sexual reproduction and the local population of pollinators might vary. When nectar thieves harm flowers in their quest for nectar, it may alter the behaviour of subsequent flower visits and, in turn, reduce the likelihood of successful plant reproduction. However, researchers have only looked on nectar manipulation by nectar thieves. Among the Lamiaceae family of plants, Leucas aspera Willd from the middle of June through the beginning of February, L. aspera bloomed. L. aspera was examined for this study in several locations around Darjeeling. We have selected 77 different insect species recorded as having visited the focus flowers of L. aspera in 35 different plant populations. Even while nectar stealing in L. aspera had no effect on plant reproduction, it did have an effect on the pollinator population. The importance of nectar robbers to plant ecology and evolution may have been underestimated in the past and should be further considered in future studies.