Beetle pollination ofPhilodendron solimoesense(Araceae) in French Guiana

Abstract

The pollination of Philodendron solimoesense (subgenus Meconostigma) was studied in four populations of French Guiana. Flowering is asynchronous within each population during July, and the flowering cycle is a 2-d process. Numerous insects visit Philodendron inflorescences, but the main pollinator seems to be Cyclocephala colasi (Scarabaeidae, Dynastinae). The pollination process displays aspects typical of beetle pollination: the production of heat and of a strong odor, the presence of a food reward (stigmatic secretion and sterile male flowers), and the presence of a copulation chamber. Flower heat production is important (ca. 11 degrees C above the ambient air) and may help to volatilize the fragrance. Attraction and choice-test experiments showed that C. colasi is not likely to depend on chemical information (such as pheromone) to localize conspecifics but may rely instead on stimuli produced by the inflorescences in order to meet mating partners.

Floral resins of Philodendron adamantinum (Araceae): secretion, release and synchrony with pollinators

“…This also actively released resin in Philodendron is not a floral reward nor is it involved in the attraction of pollinators, which are cyclocephaline beetles of the family Scarabaeidae (Gottsberger & Amaral 1984;Gottsberger 1986;Gibernau et al 1999;Gibernau & Barabé 2002;Gottsberger & SilberbauerGottsberger 2006;Maia et al 2010;Gottsberger et al 2013). However, it makes part of the fine-tuned pollination mechanism.…”

A simple floral fragrance and unusual osmophore structure in Cyclopogon elatus (Orchidaceae)

“…A complex mixture of volatile compounds serve as attractants in plants pollinated by a varied fauna, including bats, beetles, butterflies, moths, bees and wasps (Knudsen & Tollsten 1993, 1995Gibernau et al 1999;Andersson et al 2002;Petterson et al 2004;Raguso 2004;Johnson et al 2007). Flower parts engaged in scent production may be represented either by an undifferentiated epidermis, which diffusely emits fragrances (Mazurkiewicz 1913), or by osmophores, i.e.…”

Aspectos biológicos de Cyclocephala verticalis burmeister (coleoptera: scarabaeidae)

“…Porém, nem todas as espécies de Cyclocephala são pragas, sendo que algumas podem apresentar importante papel na polinização de plantas (Gibernau et al 1999), enquanto outras podem contribuir para a decomposição da matéria orgânica (Salvadori & Pereira 2006). Há também indicações de que várias espécies são saprófagas facultativas, sendo capazes de se desenvolver na ausência de raízes de plantas (Pardo-Locarno et al 2005).…”