DOCSLIB.ORG

Factors Affecting Pollination Activity of Megachile Lanata Lepel

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Factors Affecting Pollination Activity of Megachile Lanata Lepel Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Anim. SeL), Vol. 95, No. 6, December 1986, pp. 757-769. © Printed in India. Factors affecting pollination activity of Megachile lanata lepel D P ABROL* and R P KAPIL** Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Simulated Ecology, Department of Zoology, Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar 125004, India ·Present address: Division of Entomology, S K University of Agricultural Science & Technology, Shalimar Campus, Srinagar (J and K) 191121, India ··Present address: Director, Indian Lac Research Institute (ICAR), Namkum, Ranchi 834010, India MS received 7 September 1985; revised 8 September 1986 Abstract. Foraging activity of Megachile lanata on Crotalaria juncea L. flowers occurred only when minimum threshold of environmental factors was surpassed, while the cessation of activities was governed mainly by the fast decline in values of light intensity and solar radiation. Between the initiation and cessation of field activity, foraging population showed a positive correlation with air temperature, light intensity, solar radiation and nectar-sugar concentration fluctuations, but was negatively correlated with relative humidity, soil temperature and wind velocity. The path coefficient analysis revealed that direct effect of solar radiation and light intensity on foraging population were much pronounced and positive, while the effects of other factors were of very low magnitude, negative or negligible. However, their interrelationships caused accentuation of the overall effects of air temperature, relative humidity and nectar-sugar concentration. The resultant correlation with bee activity were strengthened through their favourable or unfavourable interaction with other factors. Keywords. Environmental factors; Megachile lanata; Crota/aria juncea; pollination; path analysis. 1. Introduction The pollinating effectiveness of bees depends upon their foraging population in the field and their behaviour on a crop. Since the field population as well as individual's foraging behaviour result from their innate and unavoidable responses to various environmental stimuli, ecological investigations on qualitative and quantitative aspects of their foraging on economic crops need to be thoroughly understood. This will help in assessment of the resultant interrelationships for their effective management and utilisation as prospective pollinators. Though pollination effective­ ness of various bee pollinators has extensively been studied in the past, the studies are mainly based on a limited set of environmental conditions. For instance, Cirudarescu (1971) found that the number of insect visitors on lucerne was directly related to temperature and inversely to relative humidity, but the latter authors found it unaffected by relative humidity and vapour pressure. The flower visiting speed of honey bees increased with temperature (Benedek 1972; Burill and Dietz 1981). Wrona (1973) stated that pollination efficiency of honeybees increased with temperature and decreased with wind speed. Szabo and Smith (1972) found that foraging activity was positively correlated with a suitable combination of light intensity and temperature combined but not with the light intensity independent of temperature. Nunez (1977) reported that the morning activity was related to nectar 757 758 D P Abrol and R P Kapil flow and in the evening it W!iS correlated with photoperiod. These reports indicate no fair general pattern of effects of'different environmental factors influencing the pollination activity of bees. The probable reason seems in omission of such contributing factors actually influencing the pollination activity and in random selection of a few convenient ones having either no interaction or working in diverse ways, generating thus inconclusive results. Since environment is a complex of interrelated factors which influence the bee activity, and also plant physiology, a study of a complex phenomenon like pollination shall remain incomplete until a sizeable matrix of factors are taken on ensanable. These were the reasons for the present investigations which include air, temperature, relative humidity, light intensity, solar radiation, nectar-sugar concentration, soil temperature and wind velocity as factors probably influencing bee-flower relationships. 2. Materials and methods This study was conducted during September 1984 in sub-tropical Hissar located in the North Western plains of the country between 28° 59'-29° 46' N (latitude) and 75° 11'-76° 18 E (longitude) at 215·2 m (altitude) on the Plant Breeding Farm of Haryana Agricultural University, Hissar where Crotalaria juncea is grown regularly for seed production. Hourly observations starting from 0800-1800 h on population/ m 2 of Megachile lanata were recorded on C. juncea following Sihag (1982). Concurrent with the forager counts hourly measurements of environmental factors were made in the experimental field. Atmospheric temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) were measured with a 'dry and wet' bulb thermometer. Soil temperature (ST) was recorded with a soil thermometer at a depth of 25 cm. Light intensity (LI) was recorded with a Luxmeter, model Luxomet-300 manufactured by Mls Research Instrumentation, Naraina Industrial Area, New Delhi. Similarly solar radiation (SR) was recorded by solarimeter, model SM 201, manufactured by MjsCentral Electronics Ltd., Sahibabad, UP. Wind velocity (WV) was recorded with a hand Anemometer manufactured by Mls Research Instrumentation, Naraina Industrial Area, New Delhi held vertically at a height of about 1 meter above the crop surface. Total dissolved solids in the nectais (NSC) were estimated with the pocket refractometers (model 1093, Range, 0-50%; model 312, Range, 40-85%) manufactured by Mls ToshniwalBrothers Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. The recorded data were analysed on TDC-316 computer for simple correlation and path coefficient analysis following Dewey and Lu (1959). 3. Results 3.1 Commencement and cessation offoraging activity The data in table 1 show the temperature, relative humidity, light intensity, solar radiation, soil temperature and wind velocity in relation to the commencement and cessation of field activity by M. lanata on C. juncea flowers during September 1984. The time at which the commencement of field activity occurred varied from one day to another, which was perhaps dependent upon the attainment of minimum threshold conditions required for the initiation of field activity. ~ ~ ~ ~ ..... ~. '8 §.f ~ .....<;. ~. Table 2. Estimates of correlation coefficients exhibiting interrelationships of different environmental ~ factors influencing pollination activity of M. lanata. Relative Light Solar Nectar-sugar Soil Wind Bee Factors humidity intensity radiation concentration temperature velocity activity f ~ Air temperature -0'359* (}690** 0·0670 0,547** -(}176 -0,264 0,650** is'' Relative humidity -0,0661 0,833** -0'871** (}977** 0'987** -0'357* 5 Light intensity 0,462** 0,364* 0·0632 0·0040 .0'826** s Solar radiation -(}542** (}880** 0,865** 0·1548 Nectar-sugar concentration -0'819** -0'810** 0,584** Soil temperature 0,984** -0,260 i Wind velocity -0,286 *P~0'05, n-2=31 *·P~O·OI, n- 2= 31. .....:I VI\0 760 D P Abrol and R P Kapil Variation in commencement of the field activity, however, could not be explained by anyone factor. A complex combination of various factors was perhaps responsible for initiation of field activity. The studies further revealed that, in general a temperature of 22·5°C, 75% relative humidity, 2100 Ix light intensity, 25 mw/crn 2 solar radiation, 22°C soil temperature and 3·0 kmph wind velocity appeared to be the minimum threshold conditions for initiation of field activity. The cessation of activity was, however, governed mainly by the fast decline in values of light intensity and solar radiation, which were appreciably low than that required for commencement of field activities. It was found that cessation of activities occurred even before the air temperature dropped to the values associated with the commencement of field activity (22·5°C). The critical examination of the data further revealed the occurrence of factor compensatory mechanism for initiation of bee activity within the foraging ranges of the bees, where low values of one factor were compensated by the higher values of others. For instance, on 11 September 1984, foraging flight occurred when air 2 temperature was 22·5°C light intensity 2700 lx and solar radiation 41 mw/cm , while on 14 September 1984, it started at a higher temperature (27'5°C) when values of 2 other factors like light intensity (2100 Ix) and solar radiation (30 mw/crn ) were comparatively lower than those required for the initiation of field activity on 11 September 1984. Similar situation was observed on 19 September 1984, when the foraging flight commenced at 28°C, but the values of light intensity (2600 lx) and solar radiation (25 mw/cm-) were lower than those associated with initiation of field activity on 11 September 1984. Evidently, the observations on 11 September 1984 indicate that low values of air temperature were compensated by higher values of light intensity and solar radiation while on 14 and 19 September, the reverse was true. Thus, existence of factor compensating mechanisms governing initiation of bee activity is a clear possibility. 3.2 Diurnal trends in bee activity in relation to various environmental factors Hourly observations on bee counts showed that their abundance followed air tempe­ rature, light intensity, solar radiation, soil temperature and nectar-sugar
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Discovery of Megachile (Pseudomegachile) Lanata (Fabricius, 1775) (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae) in Colombia, an Adventive Bee Species from the Old World
    15 1 NOTES ON GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION Check List 15 (1): 45–48 https://doi.org/10.15560/15.1.45 Discovery of Megachile (Pseudomegachile) lanata (Fabricius, 1775) (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae) in Colombia, an adventive bee species from the Old World Victor H. Gonzalez1, Diego A. Guevara2, Joanna Jaramillo-Silva2, Rodulfo Ospina2 1 Undergraduate Biology Program and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Haworth Hall, 1200 Sunnyside Ave., University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66045, USA. 2 Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Abejas, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, DC; [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] Corresponding author: Victor H. Gonzalez, [email protected] Abstract We record for the first time for Colombia Megachile (Pseudomegachile) lanata (Fabricius, 1775), a bee species from Southeast Asia. This is the first record of an adventive bee species for the country besides Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758, the European honey bee. Megachile lanata appears to have arrived to the Caribbean coast of Colombia nearly half a century ago, reaching the Orinoquia region recently. We provide comments on diagnostic features to facilitate the recognition of this bee species and discuss its possible establishment in Colombia. Key words Conservation, dauber bees, invasive species, Megachilini, pollinators. Academic editor: Gabriela P. Camacho | Received 6 October 2018 | Accepted 18 December 2018 | Published 18 January 2019 Citation: Gonzalez VH, Guevara DA, Jaramillo-Silva J, Ospina R (2019) Discovery of Megachile (Pseudomegachile) lanata (Fabricius, 1775) (Hymenoptera, Megachilidae) in Colombia, an adventive bee species from the Old World. Check List 15 (1): 45–48. https://doi.org/10.15560/15.1.45 Introduction cosmopolitan in distribution, as in the case of the European honey bees and the wool carder bee Anthid- A few bee species, such as the European honey bee ium manicatum (Linnaeus, 1758) (e.g., Gonzalez et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Diversity of Insect Pollinators on Pigeon Pea, Cajanus Cajan L. In
    Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2018; 6(6): 47-50 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 Diversity of Insect pollinators on Pigeon pea, JEZS 2018; 6(6): 47-50 © 2018 JEZS Cajanus cajan L. in Odisha Received: 06-09-2018 Accepted: 09-10-2018 D Padhy D Padhy, CR Satapathy and RN Mohapatra AICRP on Honeybees and Pollinators, Department of Abstract Entomology, College of Agriculture, OUAT, A field experiment was conducted to study the “Diversity of insect pollinators on Pigeon pea (Cajanus Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India cajan L.) in Odisha” during Kharif, 2017-2018 at the Entomology block in Central Research Station of Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The Pigeon pea crop attracted CR Satapathy eleven species of pollinators represented by 3 families viz., Apidae (45.5%), Megachilidae (36.4%) and AICRP on Honeybees and Vespidae (18.2%) of order hymenoptera. Species wise diversity indicated that Megachile lanata Fab. was Pollinators, Department of the most dominant one (29.1%) followed by Megachile disjuncta Fab. (20.5%), Tetragonula iridipennis Entomology, College of Smith (14.2%), Apis cerana indica Fab. (10.95%), Megachile bicolor Fab. (10.7%), Xylocopa latipes Agriculture, OUAT, Drury (8.5%), Megachile hera Bingham (2.1%), Eumenes spp. (1.7%), Xylocopa aestuans Lin. (1.2%), Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India Vespa tropica Lin. (0.8%) and Apis dorsata Fab. (0.2%). All the pollinators were active during early and mid-flowering stage except X. latipes which was more active on the late flowering stage. During various RN Mohapatra flowering stages (69-159 DAS) of the crop the number of species varied from 5-11 with the Simpson’s AICRP on Honeybees and diversity index of 0.602-0.897.
    [Show full text]
  • A Systematic Literature Review
    Tropical Ecology 58(1): 211–215, 2017 ISSN 0564-3295 © International Society for Tropical Ecology www.tropecol.com Diversity of native bees on Parkinsonia aculeata L. in Jammu region of North-West Himalaya UMA SHANKAR, D. P. ABROL*, DEBJYOTI CHATTERJEE & S. E. H. RIZVI Division of Entomology, Sher-e- Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Chatha Jammu – 180009, J&K, India Abstract: A study was conducted in Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir State to determine the species composition and relative abundance of pollinators on Parkinsonia aculeata L., (Family Fabaceae) is a perennial flowering plant, growing as an avenue tree on roadsides. Parkinsonia flowers attracted 27 species of insects belonging to orders Hymenoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera. They included Megachile bicolor (Fabricius), Megachile hera (Bingham), Megachile lanata (Fabricius), Megachile disjuncta (Fab.), Megachile cephalotes (Smith), Megachile badia (Fab.), Megachile semivestita (Smith), Megachile vigilans (Smith), Megachile relata (Fab.), Megachile femorata, Andrena sp., Amegilla zonata (Linnaeus), Amegilla confusa (Smith), Apis dorsata (Fab.), Apis cerana (Fab.), Apis florea (Fab.), Ceratina smaragdula (Fab.)., Xylocopa latipes (Drury), Nomia iridescens (Smith), Nomia curvipes (Fab.), and seven species of unidentified insects. Megachile bees were most abundant and constituted more than 95% of the insects visiting Parkinsonia aculeata flowers. Species diversity measured by Shannon Wiener index showed a high value of H' = 2.03, reflecting a diverse pollinator community in the area. The foragers of all the species were found to be most active between 11.00 and 15.00 hrs and the population of flower visitors declined thereafter. Information on diversity of native pollinators from disturbed habitats and their specific dependence on P.
    [Show full text]
  • The Very Handy Bee Manual
    The Very Handy Manual: How to Catch and Identify Bees and Manage a Collection A Collective and Ongoing Effort by Those Who Love to Study Bees in North America Last Revised: October, 2010 This manual is a compilation of the wisdom and experience of many individuals, some of whom are directly acknowledged here and others not. We thank all of you. The bulk of the text was compiled by Sam Droege at the USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab over several years from 2004-2008. We regularly update the manual with new information, so, if you have a new technique, some additional ideas for sections, corrections or additions, we would like to hear from you. Please email those to Sam Droege ([email protected]). You can also email Sam if you are interested in joining the group’s discussion group on bee monitoring and identification. Many thanks to Dave and Janice Green, Tracy Zarrillo, and Liz Sellers for their many hours of editing this manual. "They've got this steamroller going, and they won't stop until there's nobody fishing. What are they going to do then, save some bees?" - Mike Russo (Massachusetts fisherman who has fished cod for 18 years, on environmentalists)-Provided by Matthew Shepherd Contents Where to Find Bees ...................................................................................................................................... 2 Nets ............................................................................................................................................................. 2 Netting Technique ......................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Bumblebee Conservator
    Volume 2, Issue 1: First Half 2014 Bumblebee Conservator Newsletter of the BumbleBee Specialist Group In this issue From the Chair From the Chair 1 A very happy and productive 2014 to everyone! We start this year having seen From the Editor 1 enormously encouraging progress in 2013. Our different regions have started from BBSG Executive Committee 2 very different positions, in terms of established knowledge of their bee faunas Regional Coordinators 2 as well as in terms of resources available, but members in all regions are actively moving forward. In Europe and North America, which have been fortunate to Bumblebee Specialist have the most specialists over the last century, we are achieving the first species Group Report 2013 3 assessments. Mesoamerica and South America are also very close, despite the huge Bumblebees in the News 9 areas to survey and the much less well known species. In Asia, with far more species, many of them poorly known, remarkably rapid progress is being made in sorting Research 13 out what is present and in building the crucial keys and distribution maps. In some Conservation News 20 regions there are very few people to tackle the task, sometimes in situations that Bibliography 21 make progress challenging and slow – their enthusiasm is especially appreciated! At this stage, broad discussion of problems and of the solutions developed from your experience will be especially important. This will direct the best assessments for focusing the future of bumblebee conservation. From the Editor Welcome to the second issue of the Bumblebee Conservator, the official newsletter of the Bumblebee Specialist Group.
    [Show full text]
  • FORTY YEARS of CHANGE in SOUTHWESTERN BEE ASSEMBLAGES Catherine Cumberland University of New Mexico - Main Campus
    University of New Mexico UNM Digital Repository Biology ETDs Electronic Theses and Dissertations Summer 7-15-2019 FORTY YEARS OF CHANGE IN SOUTHWESTERN BEE ASSEMBLAGES Catherine Cumberland University of New Mexico - Main Campus Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/biol_etds Part of the Biology Commons Recommended Citation Cumberland, Catherine. "FORTY YEARS OF CHANGE IN SOUTHWESTERN BEE ASSEMBLAGES." (2019). https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/biol_etds/321 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Electronic Theses and Dissertations at UNM Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biology ETDs by an authorized administrator of UNM Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Catherine Cumberland Candidate Biology Department This dissertation is approved, and it is acceptable in quality and form for publication: Approved by the Dissertation Committee: Kenneth Whitney, Ph.D., Chairperson Scott Collins, Ph.D. Paula Klientjes-Neff, Ph.D. Diane Marshall, Ph.D. Kelly Miller, Ph.D. i FORTY YEARS OF CHANGE IN SOUTHWESTERN BEE ASSEMBLAGES by CATHERINE CUMBERLAND B.A., Biology, Sonoma State University 2005 B.A., Environmental Studies, Sonoma State University 2005 M.S., Ecology, Colorado State University 2014 DISSERTATION Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy BIOLOGY The University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico July, 2019 ii FORTY YEARS OF CHANGE IN SOUTHWESTERN BEE ASSEMBLAGES by CATHERINE CUMBERLAND B.A., Biology B.A., Environmental Studies M.S., Ecology Ph.D., Biology ABSTRACT Changes in a regional bee assemblage were investigated by repeating a 1970s study from the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Diversity and Conservation of Leaf Cutter Bees (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae)
    Advances in Plants & Agriculture Research Mini Review Open Access Diversity and conservation of leaf cutter bees (Hymenoptera: megachilidae) Abstract Volume 8 Issue 1 - 2018 Plants pollination is an important ecosystem service provided by insects to mankind. Veeresh kumar,1 Kumaranag KM2 Among insects, hymenopterans are considered as efficient pollinators of several 1ICAR-Central Agro Forestry Research Institute, India cultivated and uncultivated plant species. The leafcutter bees in the family Megachilidae 2Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute are one of the important pollinators of many agricultural, horticultural, medicinal and (IARI), India aromatic crops. These bees being important pollinators of many wild plant species also play an important role in maintenance of the ecosystem. In this context, conservation Correspondence: Veeresh kumar, ICAR-Central Agro of pollinators has emerged as a major issue. One of the conservation strategies is to Forestry Research Institute, Jhansi, UP, India place hollow reeds of Ipomoea carnea Jacq. For trap nesting leaf-cutter bees. Email [email protected] Keywords: nestin, abundance, floral association, biology, traps, pollination, pollen, Received: December 11, 2017 | Published: February 07, 2018 nectar, megachilids, non-Apis bees Introduction to be more abundant during June, July, September and October and moderately abundant during May, August, November and December More than one-third of the world’s crops require pollination to set and lowest during January to April. Rank abundance of different 1 seeds and fruits Dias et al. It is likely that wild bee community is species of leaf cutter bees indicated that Megachile lanata was more sufficient to provide services for multiple crops, including some that are abundant (27.01%), followed by M.
    [Show full text]
  • Origins, Composition and Distribution of the Bees of Cuba (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila)
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Center for Systematic Entomology, Gainesville, Insecta Mundi Florida 12-2008 Origins, composition and distribution of the bees of Cuba (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) Julio A. Genaro York University, Toronto, ON, Canada Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/insectamundi Part of the Entomology Commons Genaro, Julio A., "Origins, composition and distribution of the bees of Cuba (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila)" (2008). Insecta Mundi. 583. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/insectamundi/583 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for Systematic Entomology, Gainesville, Florida at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Insecta Mundi by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. INSECTA MUNDI A Journal of World Insect Systematics 0052 Origins, composition and distribution of the bees of Cuba (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) Julio A. Genaro Department Biology York University 4700 Keele Street Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3, Canada Date of Issue: December 5, 2008 CENTER FOR SYSTEMATIC E NTOMOLOGY, INC., Gainesville, FL Julio A. Genaro Origins, composition and distribution of the bees of Cuba (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) Insecta Mundi 0052: 1-16 Published in 2008 by Center for Systematic Entomology, Inc. P. O. Box 141874 Gainesville, FL 32614-1874 U. S. A. http://www.centerforsystematicentomology.org/ Insecta Mundi is a journal primarily devoted to insect systematics, but articles can be published on any non-marine arthropod taxon. Manuscripts considered for publication include, but are not limited to, systematic or taxonomic studies, revisions, nomenclatural changes, faunal studies, book reviews, phylo- genetic analyses, biological or behavioral studies, etc.
    [Show full text]
  • Proceedings of the CTFS-AA IFBC 2006
    PROCEEDINGS OF THE CENTER FOR TROPICAL FOREST SCIENCE – ARNOLD ARBORETUM INTERNATIONAL FIELD BIOLOGY COURSE 2006 Sinharaja World Heritage Site, Sri Lanka 30 July – 28 August 2006 Edited by Min Sheng Khoo, Cynthia Hong-Wa, and Rhett D. Harrison Center for Tropical Forest Science – Arnold Arboretum Asia Program University of Peradeniya Forest Department Sri Lanka Cover photo: Organizers, resource staff and participants of the sixth CTFS-AA International Field Biology Course 2006 (IFBC-2006) at Sinharaja Forest Bungalow, after the opening ceremony on 31 July 2006. See more photos on page 9. Preface i Preface The CTFS-AA International Field Biology Course is an annual, graduate-level field course in tropical forest biology run by the Center for Tropical Forest Science – Arnold Arboretum Asia Program in collaboration with institutional partners in South and Southeast Asia. The CTFS-AA International Field Biology Course 2006 was held at Sinharaja World Heritage Area, Sri Lanka, from 30 July to 29 August and was hosted by the Forest Department, Sri Lanka, and the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. It was the sixth such course organized by CTFS-AA. Last year’s the course was held at Khao Chong, Thailand, and previous courses have been held in Malaysia. Next year’s course will be held at Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China. The aim of these courses is to provide high-level training in the biology of forests in South and Southeast Asia. The courses are aimed at upper-level undergraduate and graduate students from the region, who are at the start of their thesis research or professional careers in forest biology.
    [Show full text]
  • Exploitation of Strobilanthes Ixiocephala (Acanthaceae) Flower Buds by Bees
    Journal of Pollination Ecology, 26(6), 2020, pp 47-51 — Short Communication — EXPLOITATION OF STROBILANTHES IXIOCEPHALA (ACANTHACEAE) FLOWER BUDS BY BEES Priyanka A. Ambavane, Nikhil P. More, Renee M. Borges* Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru 560012, India Abstract—Floral larceny by bees has been studied mostly in open flowers although it is also experienced in buds. Until now, only few studies have recorded larceny of unopened flowers. In this study, we present behavioural observations of Apis and non-Apis bees exploiting Strobilanthes ixiocephala (Acanthaceae) buds for floral rewards. The bees pierce open the anterior end of the unopened buds to access pollen and nectar. Keywords: Floral larceny, flower buds, Strobilanthes ixiocephala, Western Ghats, India INTRODUCTION Most studies, so far, have focused on nectar robbery Pollinators are attracted to flowers through a combination and thievery via holes at the bottom of corollas. Bees entering of various advertising signals (Willmer 2011). Although there unopened flowers have not been well documented and this is a mutualistic interaction between plants and pollinators, this behaviour is understudied. Saunders (2017) recorded Hylaeus interaction is negatively affected when one partner starts perhumilis (Colletidae) entering unopened flowers of exploiting the other or when third-party interactants consume Corymbia ficifolia (Myrtaceae). Recently, researchers have rewards meant for pollinators (Boucher et al. 1982; Bronstein reported a new kind of pollination process mediated by insects 1994). Floral visitors that cause pollination are legitimate but, at the breaking-bud stage. Yamaji & Osawa (2015) recorded in some cases, visitors bypass regular flower entrances, and small bees Lasioglossum japonicum entering half-opened exploit flower rewards through a hole chewed at the bottom flowers of Lycoris sanguinea var.
    [Show full text]
  • Download E-Book
    African Journal of Agricultural Research Volume 9 Number 16 April 2014 ISSN 1991-637X ABOUT AJAR The African Journal of Agricultural Research (AJAR) is published weekly (one volume per year) by Academic Journals. African Journal of Agricultural Research (AJAR) is an open access journal that publishes high-quality solicited and unsolicited articles, in English, in all areas of agriculture including arid soil research and rehabilitation, agricultural genomics, stored products research, tree fruit production, pesticide science, post harvest biology and technology, seed science research, irrigation, agricultural engineering, water resources management, marine sciences, agronomy, animal science, physiology and morphology, aquaculture, crop science, dairy science, entomology, fish and fisheries, forestry, freshwater science, horticulture, poultry science, soil science, systematic biology, veterinary, virology, viticulture, weed biology, agricultural economics and agribusiness. All articles published in AJAR are peer- reviewed. Contact Us Editorial Office: [email protected] Help Desk: [email protected] Website: http://www.academicjournals.org/journal/AJAR Submit manuscript online http://ms.academicjournals.me/ Editors Prof. N.A. Amusa Dr. Bampidis Vasil eios Editor, African Journal of Agricultural Research National Agricultural Research Foundation (NAGREF), Academic Journals. Animal Research Institute 58100 Giannitsa, Greece. Dr. Panagiota Florou-Paneri Laboratory of Nutrition, Dr. Zhang Yuanzhi Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory of Space Technology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University of Technology (HUT) Kilonkallio Espoo, Greece. Finland . Prof. Dr. Abdul Majeed Dr. Mboya E. Burud i Department of Botany, University of Gujrat,India, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Director Horticulture, P.O. Box 30709 Nairobi 00100, and landscaping. Kenya. India. Dr. Andres Cibil s Prof. Suleyman TABAN Assistant Professor of Rangeland Science Department of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition, Dept.
    [Show full text]
  • Status-Of-Pollinators-In-North-America
    http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11761.html We ship printed books within 1 business day; personal PDFs are available immediately. Status of Pollinators in North America Committee on the Status of Pollinators in North America, National Research Council ISBN: 0-309-66381-4, 326 pages, 6 x 9, (2007) This PDF is available from the National Academies Press at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11761.html Visit the National Academies Press online, the authoritative source for all books from the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council: • Download hundreds of free books in PDF • Read thousands of books online for free • Explore our innovative research tools – try the “Research Dashboard” now! • Sign up to be notified when new books are published • Purchase printed books and selected PDF files Thank you for downloading this PDF. If you have comments, questions or just want more information about the books published by the National Academies Press, you may contact our customer service department toll- free at 888-624-8373, visit us online, or send an email to [email protected]. This book plus thousands more are available at http://www.nap.edu. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF File are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Distribution, posting, or copying is strictly prohibited without written permission of the National Academies Press. Request reprint permission for this book. Status of Pollinators in North America http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11761.html STATUS OF POLLINATORS IN NORTH AMERICA Committee on the Status of Pollinators in North America Board on Life Sciences Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources Division on Earth and Life Studies Copyright © National Academy of Sciences.
    [Show full text]