Assessment of Pollinator Diversity in Agricultural Landscapes of Sokoto State

Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and other insects, are essential for agricultural productivity and ecosystem function, yet their diversity and status in the semi-arid agricultural landscapes of Sokoto State, within Nigeria's North West geopolitical zone, have received minimal scientific attention. This study assesses pollinator diversity across five farming communities in Sokoto State, examining species richness, abundance, and habitat associations in relation to local land use patterns. Pollinator surveys were conducted using pan traps, transect walks, and flower visitor observations across a gradient of habitat types including irrigated vegetable plots, cereal farmland, shrubby fallow, and native vegetation patches. A total of 84 pollinator species were recorded from 23 families, including 41 bee species, 28 butterfly species, and 15 wasp and hoverfly species. Native vegetation patches supported the highest pollinator species richness, while irrigated vegetable plots had the highest overall pollinator abundance linked to floral availability. The study finds a strong positive relationship between the retention of native vegetation patches within the agricultural matrix and local pollinator diversity. Pesticide use on irrigated farms was identified as a key threat, with several farmers reporting observed die-offs of pollinators following pesticide application. The study recommends pesticide application guidelines, promotion of flower strips and hedgerows within farms, and integration of pollinator conservation into Sokoto State's agricultural extension programs. Keywords: pollinators, bees, agricultural landscapes, Sokoto State, North West Nigeria