Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-rkxrd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-21T05:57:03.311Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Diversity and feeding behaviour of insects visiting Brachiaria ruziziensis (Poaceae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2007

Léonard S.T. Ngamo ,
Fernand N.F. Tchuenguem  and
Gladys Mbofung
Léonard S.T. Ngamo*
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ngaoundéré, PO Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
Fernand N.F. Tchuenguem
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ngaoundéré, PO Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
Gladys Mbofung
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ngaoundéré, PO Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
*
*E-mail: ngamo7@swing.be
Get access

Abstract

The diversity of visitors to flowers of the grass Brachiaria ruziziensis R. Germ and Evrard is very low in Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. Bees (Hymenoptera) and syrphids (Diptera) were observed gathering pollen, and each insect group had its own strategy depending on the prevailing environmental conditions. Syrphids are early-morning flower visitors and take time to feed on wet pollen. They visit flowers from 0630 h when the relative humidity is higher than 80% and temperature lower than 25°C. Bees gather dry pollen from 0930 h when the relative humidity is <50% and temperature>30°C, and carry it to the nests for feeding.

Keywords

pollen collectionanthophilous insectsBrachiaria ruziziensissyrphidsbeestemperaturerelative humidityCameroonPoaceae
Type
Short Communication
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 25 , Issue 3 , September 2005 , pp. 214 - 217
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Enders, F. (1975) The influence of hunting manner on prey size, particularly in spiders with long attack distances (Araneidae, Linyphiidae and Salticidae). American Naturalist, 109, 737–763.Google Scholar
Flottum, P. K., Erickson, E. H. Jr. and Hanny, B. J. (1983) The honeybee–sweet corn relationship. American Bee Journal, 123, 293–299.Google Scholar
Gilbert, F. S. (1981) The foraging ecology of hoverflies: Morphology of the mouthparts in relation to feeding on pollen and nectarine of some common urban species. Ecological Entomology, 6, 245–262.Google Scholar
Griffiths, D. (1980) The feeding biology of ant-lion larvae: Prey capture, handling and utilisation. Journal of Animal Ecology, 49, 99–125.Google Scholar
Guinochet, M. (1965) Notions fondamentales de botanique générale. Edition Masson and Cie, Paris.Google Scholar
Holloway, B. A. (1979) Pollen feeding in hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae). New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 3, 339–350.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lunau, K. (1996) Signalling functions of floral colour patterns for insects flower visitors. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 235(1–2.), 11–30.Google Scholar
Pellmyr, O. (1997) Pollinating seed-eaters: Why is active pollination so rare?. Ecology, 78, 1655–1660.Google Scholar
Percival, M. S. (1969) Floral Biology. Paris Pergamon Press, UK and Robert Maxwell Pub.Google Scholar
Proctor, M., Yéo, P. and Lack, A. (1996) The natural history of pollination, The New Naturalist. Harper Collins Pub. Corbet, S.A. Co. Eds., London.Google Scholar
Rotheray, G. E. (1993) Colour guide for hoverfly larvae (Diptera: Syrphidae). Dipterist Digest No. 9 (Edited by Derek, W.). Sheffield England.Google Scholar