On the Diptera pollinators of Cryptocoryne (Araceae)

 

Niels Jacobsen & Marian Ørgaard

 

ABSTRACT

We investigated insects trapped in the spathe kettle of Cryptocoryne, and found that they were primarily Diptera, comprising six families and seven genera, with the three main families being the Phoridae represented by the genus Megaselia, the Ceratopogonidae represented by the genus Atrichopogon, and the Ephydridae by the genus Allotrichoma. Almost all caught flies were females being not advanced gravid, suggesting that the flies were not seeking mating grounds or places to oviposit but likely seeking food. We conclude that the mucilage excreted from the kettle wall must be adequate food for the flies to secure visits to other Cryptocoryne spathes.

 

KEYWORDS

Allotrichoma, Atrichopogon, Megaselia, pollination, sapromyiophilous