Although a number of investigations have concluded that lower latitudes are associated with increases in herbivore abundance and plant damage, the generality of this pattern is still under debate. Multiple factors may explain the lack of consistency in latitude -herbivory relationships. For instance, latitudinal variation in herbivore pressure may be shaped entirely or not by climatic variables, or vary among herbivore guilds with diff ering life-history traits. Additionally, the strength of top -down eff ects from natural enemies on herbivores might also vary geographically and infl uence latitude -herbivory patterns. We carried out a fi eld study where we investigated the eff ects of latitude and climate on herbivory by a seed-eating caterpillar and leaf chewers, as well as parasitism associated to the former across 30 populations of the perennial herb Ruellia nudifl ora (Acanthaceae). Th ese populations were distributed along a 5 ° latitudinal gradient from northern Yucatan (Mexico) to southern Belize, representing one-third of the species ' latitudinal distribution and the entirety and one-third of the precipitation and temperature gradient of this species ' distribution (respectively). We found opposing latitudinal gradients of seed herbivory and leaf herbivory, and this diff erence appeared to be mediated by contrasting eff ects of climate on each guild. Specifi cally, univariate regressions showed that seed herbivory increased at higher latitudes and with colder temperatures, while leaf herbivory increased toward the equator and with wetter conditions. Multiple regressions including temperature, precipitation and latitude only found significant eff ects of temperature for seed herbivory and latitude for leaf herbivory. Accordingly, that latitudinal variation in seed herbivory appears to be driven predominantly by variation in temperature whereas latitudinal variation in leaf herbivory was apparently driven by other unexplored correlates of latitude. Parasitism did not exhibit variation with latitude or climatic factors. Overall, these fi ndings underscore that the factors driving latitudinal clines in herbivory might vary even among herbivore species coexisting on the same host plant.

Although the effects of plant diversity on herbivores are contingent upon herbivore traits and the source of plant diversity (e.g. intra‐ and interspecific), most studies have analyzed these effects separately. We compared the effects of genotypic diversity of big‐leaf mahogany Swietenia macrophylla with that of tree species diversity on two specialist caterpillars (Hypsipyla grandella stem borers and Phyllocnistis meliacella leaf miners) and three generalist leafhoppers (Cicadellidae) feeding on mahogany in a large‐scale (7.2 ha) forest diversity experiment in southern Mexico. The experiment consisted of fifty‐nine 21 × 21‐m plots, with 64 tree saplings each (3‐m spacing between plants). Plots were either mahogany monocultures or species polycultures of four species (including mahogany) and – within each of these two plot types – mahogany was represented by either one or four genotypes. Throughout a five‐month period, beginning six months after planting, we measured mahogany growth and monitored herbivore and predator (spider) abundance. We found no effect of mahogany genotypic diversity on either specialist caterpillars or generalist leafhoppers, and this result was consistent across levels of tree species diversity. In contrast, species diversity had significant effects on both specialists but neither of the generalist herbivores. Specifically, species diversity lowered H. grandella attack at the middle of the sampling season, but increased attack at the end of the season, whereas P. meliacella abundance was consistently reduced. Such effects were not mediated by effects of species diversity on plant growth (of which there were none), but rather through resource heterogeneity. Diversity did not influence spider abundance. This study is one of few to directly compare sources of plant diversity, and uniquely compares such effects among herbivores with contrasting life histories (e.g. diet breadths). Overall, we demonstrate that plant species diversity effects outweigh those of genotypes, and our results suggest that such effects are stronger on specialist than generalist herbivores.

The acclimation, foraging behavior, and pollination efficiency of stingless bees of the species Nannotrigona perilampoides Cresson were evaluated in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) plants cultivated in two greenhouses. The greenhouses were divided into three areas of 16 m2, and one of the following treatments was used for pollination: stingless bees (SB), mechanical vibration (MV), and no pollination (NP). Observations were conducted once a week from 0800 to 1600 hours during 2 mo. The acclimation of the bees to the greenhouses was estimated by the number of bees that did not return to the hive (lost bees) and by comparing the population of the colonies (brood and adults). The foraging activity of the bees across the day was evaluated by comparing the number of foragers per hour. The influence of environmental variables on the foraging activity was also analyzed. The pollination efficiency was compared among treatments through the percentage of fruit set, weight of individual fruit, kilograms of fruit produced per square meter, and the number of seed per fruit. The bees started foraging on the flowers approximately 7 d after the colonies were introduced to the greenhouse. There was a decline in the population of the colonies across the experiment, but colonies did not die out. Correlations of environmental variables with the foraging activity of the bees showed that none of them had a significant influence on pollen foraging. However, water collection was positively correlated with the temperature and negatively correlated with the humidity inside the greenhouse. The estimation of the pollination efficiency per treatment showed that there were significant differences in fruit set in SB (83 +/- 4.2) and MV (78.5 +/- 6.4) compared with NP (52.6 +/- 7.6). However, the average weight of the fruit was similar for the three treatments (65 g). There were significant differences for seed number in SB (200 +/- 15.3) and MV (232 +/- 21.4) compared with NP (120 +/- 16.6). The productivity in kilograms of fruit per square meter was higher in SB (5.72 +/- 0.61) and MV (5.66 +/- 0.58 kg) compared with NP (3.34 +/- 0.72). The number of seed was positively correlated with the weight of the fruit. We conclude that the use of Nannotrigona testaceicornis Rondani, for pollinating greenhouse tomatoes in tropical climates, could be an alternative to the use of highly defensive African-derived Apis mellifera or non-native bumble bees (Bombus spp.). However, more research is needed to evaluate the cost/benefit on large-scale greenhouse pollination using N. perilampoides Cresson against other bee species and pollination methods.

Background Pollen transfer via animals is necessary for reproduction by ~80 % of flowering plants, and most of these plants live in multispecies communities where they can share pollinators. While diffuse plant–pollinator interactions are increasingly recognized as the rule rather than the exception, their fitness consequences cannot be deduced from flower visitation alone, so other proxies, functionally closer to seed production and amenable for use in a broad variety of diverse communities, are necessary. Scope We conceptually summarize how the study of pollen on stigmas of spent flowers can reflect key drivers and functional aspects of the plant–pollinator interaction (e.g. competition, facilitation or commensalism). We critically evaluate how variable visitation rates and other factors (pollinator pool and floral avoidance) can give rise to different relationships between heterospecific pollen and (1) conspecific pollen on the stigma and (2) conspecific tubes/grain in the style, revealing the complexity of potential interpretations. We advise on best practices for using these proxies, noting the assumptions and caveats involved in their use, and explicate what additional data are required to verify interpretation of given patterns. Conclusions We conclude that characterizing pollen on stigmas of spent flowers provides an attainable indirect measure of pollination interactions, but given the complex processes of pollen transfer that generate patterns of conspecific–heterospecific pollen on stigmas these cannot alone determine whether competition or facilitation are the underlying drivers. Thus, functional tests are also needed to validate these hypotheses.

For one year we studied the habitat use of Peucetia viridans living on Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, in a pasture land in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Highest spider density was recorded in August (total 118, adults 77), and lowest in May (total 7, adults 2). Spider density was significantly higher in isolated plants and lower in plants in a patch. Sex ratio (9:3) varied from 1:1.5 in April, to 1:1 in May, and to 1:0.1 in September. The dominant instar (both sexes) changed during the study. Throughout the study more spiders were recorded in 'repose' than performing any other activity. Foraging and feeding were more intense between July and September, when their prey, flower visitors, were more abundant. The number of spiders on plants varied spatially and temporally due to the combined effects of distance of the individual plant to the nearby forest, monthly precipitation, plant height, and number of panicles in anthesis. Forty-eight percent of the spiders were found living on plants with 20-30 panicles in anthesis (2% of the plant population). Most of the spiders (except for adult females) were found either below or above leaves. There were no significant differences in the distribution of most stadia respective to plant height. Positive significant correlations were found between the number of spiders and the abundance of floral visitors when the data were compared shifted-back one month, and between the number of spiders and the number of panicles in bloom when the data were compared shifted-back two months. When the abundance of spiders, floral visitors and number of panicles in bloom were correlated to monthly precipitation, we found a positive significant correlation for spider abundance when the data were compared shifted-back three months, a significant negative correlation for floral visitors when the data were compared shifted-back two months, and a nonsignificant correlation for the number of panicles in bloom, although both (panicles and floral visitors) peaked in May.