Pollination of Vietnamese Aspidistra xuansonensis (Asparagaceae) by female Cecidomyiidi flies: Larvae of pollinator feed on fertile pollen in anthers of anthetic bisexual flowers

Abstract

More than one kind of myiophily is present in Aspidistra. Brood site pollination was documented for the first time in Aspidistra. The pollination system of A. xuansonensis differs from other kinds of brood site pollination in the exit of the larvae prior to the decomposition of floral parts.

Flowering biology of Aspidistra (Asparagaceae): new data on pollination by dipteran insects

“…According to the present data and previous studies (Vislobokov et al , ), all investigated species of Aspidistra possess similar flowering phenology. The flower remains anthetic for 4–12 days and is visited by insects during the first 4–7 days.…”

“…The first field observations confirmed the suggestion of occurrence of myiophily within the genus Aspidistra but did not reveal any detail about the reward and attraction of the pollinator. The most recent study in northern Vietnam showed that A. xuansonensis is pollinated by female gall midges (Cecidomyiidae) (Vislobokov et al ). The mechanism of pollination in A. xuansonensis was recognized as unique.…”

“…Female gall midges came to the flower to oviposit and provide pollination at the same time. Larvae developed in the flower by feeding on pollen and later the larvae left the flower and dropped to the soil (Vislobokov et al ). The flower served as a brood site for gall midges.…”

“…It is known that some plants can produce heat for emission of fragrance (Gibernau & Barabe ; Gibernau et al ). Flowers of Aspidistra were recognized as odorless (Vislobokov et al , ), but floral thermogenesis was detected in some odorless flowers that are pollinated by flies (Yuan et al ). For visual attraction, angiosperm flowers most often use different kinds of bright coloration (Faegri & van der Pijl ).…”

Morphological and Molecular Revision of the Genus Ozirhincus (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)—Long-Snouted Seed-Feeding Gall Midges on Asteraceae

“…While it is assumed that the short-lived adults of most cecidomyiids do not feed [ 4 ], some are known to consume nectar or pollen from flowers, and may effect pollination (e.g., [ 39 ], [ 40 ]). This is in contrast to cecidomyiid species that effect pollination by using flowers as oviposition sites rather than a food source for the adults (e.g., [ 41 – 43 ]). In the case of Ozirhincus , because the females spend some time on the inflorescences when ovipositing into flowers, they end up carrying some pollen grains on their body, and possibly contribute towards pollination, but we do not know if they actually feed on the flowers by inserting their proboscis into them.…”