Pollinators of Epiphytic and Terrestrial Orchid Species in Bhutan

Fruit set in the orchids in the wild in Bhutan seems to be generally higher than in surrounding countries in Asia. To obtain more knowledge on local pollinators in Bhutan, pollinators were photographed in the private Orchidarium, over a period of six years. A total of 10 insect species, belonging to the orders of Diptera (true flies), Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps) and Coleoptera (beetle), were seen pollinating the flowers of 15 different orchid species (14 epiphytic and 1 terrestrial). Several pollinators are reported for the first time as the pollinators of orchids. Our study provides a first glimpse into the pollination biology of Bhutanese orchids and could be used for the reintroduction of the locally extinct orchid pollinators elsewhere in Asia.