Insect pollinators, threats for survival and ecosystem service: An outlook from hindu-kush himalaya region

Abstract

Insect pollinators are arguably one of the most important components of the agro-biodiversity that maintain ecosystem services leading to sustained crop production, food security, livelihood of farmers, beside many others. Many species of honeybees, bumblebees, flower flies, butterflies, beetles, and wasps play important roles in the pollination of diverse flowers and to conserve germplasm. The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region and its watersheds is known to be rich in biodiversity of insect pollinators but it is threatened by climate change apart of many other anthropogenic pressures. This region has a poor species inventory and there is an urgent need of a rigorous investigation and assessment about the ecology and conservation status of insect pollinators to promote and maintain the sustainable ecosystem service and biodiversity maintenances.