Abstract:
A survey of insect pollinators
associated with sesame, Sesamun indicum
L. (Pedaliaceae), was conducted at the
Agriculture Research Farm, Faculty of
Agriculture, University of Suez Canal
during the growing seasons of 2011 and
2012. All different insect pollinators which
found on the experimental site were
collected for identification. Sampling was
done once a week and three times a day.
Three methods were used to collect and
identify insects from the sesame plants (a
sweep net, pitfall traps, digital camera and
eye observation). A total of 29 insect
species were collected and properly
identified during the survey. Insect
pollinators which recorded on the plants
were divided into four groups, 18 belonged
to Hymenoptera, seven to Diptera, three to
Lepidoptera and one to Coleoptera. Results
revealed that honey-bee, Apis mellifera, was
the most dominant species in the 2011
season and the second one in the 2012
season. Whereas small carpenter bees,
Ceratina tarsata was the most dominant
species in the 2012 season and the second
one in the 2011 season. The percentage of
Hymenoptera was higher in the two studied
seasons by 90.94% and 89.59%, followed
by Diptera by 3.93% and 5.38%, then
Lepidoptera by 3.58% and 3.62, and in the
last Coleoptera by 1.53% and 1.39%,
respectively.
