Panchase Protected Forest, located in the hills above Pokhara, Nepal’s second largest city, is recognized by botanists as a rich habitat for orchids. There are hundreds of species thriving in this area, many of which cannot be found anywhere else in the country. The author has been studying the insects that inhabit mistletoes in Panchase, aiming to learn about their roles and relationships with surrounding plants. This work is meticulous and slow, highlighting how little is known about both Panchase and the broader insect populations in Nepal.
Currently, there is no comprehensive understanding of the insect species present in this region. For example, no one has thoroughly researched the pollinators that visit the orchids in Panchase. Although these relationships have existed for centuries, they remain unrecorded. It is unclear which insects visit specific flowers and whether they are crucial or just occasional visitors. This important research needs to be conducted in the future.
Insects are essential for the orchids, which include 142 species belonging to 52 different genera found in this protected area. The author reflects on these issues every monsoon season when severe flooding occurs, leading to widespread damage and loss of life. The author notes that while the devastation is reported, the impact on insect populations is often overlooked.
This article was originally published on Mongabay. What are your thoughts on the need for research into insect populations?
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Source: Mongabay Animals, by Erik Hoffner