INSECT POLLINATORS DIVERSITY IN AVOCADO ORCHARD DURING FLOWERING PERIOD IN LUSHOTO DISTRICT TANZANIA

Insect pollinator diversity is key to ensuring adequate fruit yields within avocado orchards. Bee and non-bee insect species in avocado growing areas worldwide, has been considered as potential pollinators. Despite of this information in Tanzania there has been little research into which pollinator insect species diversity visit avocado flowers during flowering season. The study was conducted at Jaegetal avocado orchard from 450 trees of Hass variety planted at spacing of 10m x 10m. Sample size was 10 trees were used to generate pollinator's population estimates. The orchard is located at S04˚47ʹ41.7ʹʹ and E038˚13ʹ11.8ʹʹ. Sweep net, forceps and aspirator were used to estimate pollinator's diversity during avocado production season 2018/19. The results showed a total of 115 individuals were sampled and honey bees were more abundant flower visitors representing 60% of all insects recorded. The second species observed included the stingless bee representing (26%), followed by tachnid fly (6%) and hoverfly (6%). The least species in abundance was ants (1%) and wasps (1%). Mean population comparison there was significant differences P< 0.005.Understanding pollinators species diversity interaction between honey bee and other flower visitor's abundances within and outside orchards could assist in improving pollination recommendations in avocado growing areas.