Lepidopteran
visitors of Anthurium inflorescences
Nathan
Hartley, Thorsten Krömer & Marc Gibernau
ABSTRACT
Observations
on the pollination biology of the genus Anthurium are scant in
comparison to other aroid genera despite comprising nearly 33% of all aroid
species. Here we report two independent observations of lepidopteran visitors
in two species of Anthurium. In Costa Rica, two different species of
fruit-piercing moths (Erebidae) were observed
visiting two separate individuals of A. caperatum in
pistillate anthesis at night; however, no evidence for pollen vectorization was
obtained. In Mexico, several individuals of the 88-butterfly (Diaethria anna;
Nymphalidae) were observed visiting A. podophyllum
during the middle of the day. Additionally, pollen of A. podophyllum was
observed deposited on the ventral abdomen of an 88-butterfly. These findings,
although lacking the data needed to confirm their role as pollinators of these Anthurium,
are significant in that they represent the first documentation of lepidopteran
visitors for any species of aroid. A review of spadix secretions in Anthurium
is also provided and an encouragement to augment
the number of studies on pollination biology of this genus is offered.
KEYWORDS
Araceae,
Pollination, Nectar, Stigmatic secretion, Tepal secretion, Erebidae,
Nymphalidae