Assessing Insect Pollinator Assemblages of Salvia rosmarinus in Western Himalayan Farmland.

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a fragrant, medicinal, and economically valuable herb that also plays a vital ecological role in supporting pollinators. Due to its protandrous floral nature, cross-pollination by insect vectors is essential for successful reproduction, fruit set, and seed formation. To investigate its pollination ecology, a study on the insect pollinator assemblage of S. rosmarinus was conducted during its peak flowering season, from mid-March to April, on the farms of India Glycols Ltd., Ghimtoli, Rudraprayag, Uttarakhand, located in the mid-altitudinal region of the Western Himalaya. Field observations were carried out between 09:00 and 14:00 hours, during which a total of 28 insect pollinator species were recorded. These species belonged to three insect orders—Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, and Diptera—representing eight families. Lepidoptera formed the most dominant group, accounting for 64% of total visitors, followed by Hymenoptera (22%) and Diptera (14%). Among families, Nymphalidae (28.6%) and Lycaenidae (21.4%) were the most represented. Prominent and frequent visitors included Papilio machaon, Anthophora sp., Apis cerana, Apis mellifera, and Episyrphus balteatus. Notably, several pollinator species of conservation concern were also documented, including taxa listed under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The findings emphasize the ecological importance of S. rosmarinus as a pollinator-attractive plant that supports diverse insect communities. Encouraging the cultivation of rosemary in agroecosystems can promote pollinator conservation, enhance ecological balance, and contribute to both environmental and economic sustainability in the Western Himalayan farmlands.