Nectar robbing by sunbirds on the flowers of Morinda pubescens J.E. Smith (Rubiaceae)

Abstract

Morinda pubescens is a dry season blooming tree species. The flowers are hermaphroditic distylous, fragrant and nectariferous. Thrips use floral buds for breeding and flowers for food. Sunbirds, Nectarinia asiatica and N. zeylonica pick up thrips from the flowers by probing the flowers legitimately and collect nectar illegitimately by making a puncture/slit at the base of the corolla tube from outside. The illegitimate nectar robbing by sunbirds on the flowers of M. pubescens relates to primary robbing. The study indicates that M. pubescens flowers are an important source of thrips as insect food and nectar as instant drink for sunbirds during dry season in the deciduous forest ecosystem.