author(s)
Panma Yankit, Kiran Rana, Harish Kumar Sharma, Rohit Kumar Nayak, Gaikwad Mahesh Balaso and Nitika Negi

abstract
The bumble bee (Bombus haemorrhoidalis Smith) is an effective pollinator in the cultivation of polyhouse tomato Solanum lycopersicum Mill. The foraging activity of bumble bees in tomato crop was recorded and observed that maximum (8.33 bumble bees/5min) activity of bumble bees (B. haemorrhoidalis) was during 1800-1900 day hours. Foraging rate was peaked during 1000-1100 day hour (4.74 flowers/min). Foraging speed was recorded to be maximum time spent /flower (6.82 sec/flower) during 0800-0900hr and minimum was during 1200-1300hr (3.19 sec/flower). Number of B. haemorrhoidalis per m²/5min was maximum during 1600-1700hr of the day (11.12 bumble bees/ m²/5min). While number of bees were significantly higher (9.55 bumble bees/ m²/5min) during full bloom followed by (8.61 bumble bees/ m²/5min) during onset of bloom. Bumble bee foragers preferred to visit tomato bloom during morning and evening time than mid day with more abundance, foraging rate and foraging speed during these hours of the day.