Visitantes florais diurnos em corticeira do banhado (Erythrina crista-galli L. Leguminosae: Faboideae) em Santa Maria, RS

Abstract

Erythrina crista-galli L. occurs in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. It is known as “Corticeira do banhado”, and consists on a small tree, with pinkish-red flowers, characteristic of wet habitats. This work aimed to study phenology, inflorescence insect visitors, and possible pollinators of E. crista-galli in Santa Maria, RS, from 2002 to 2003. Six trees were phenology studied. Floral visitors were directly observed or with binocular help, and some were collected for identification. The following pollination tests were carried: apomixy, autogamy, geitonogamy, xenogamy and spontaneous self-pollination. E. crista-galli flourishes from November to December; anthesis starts around 7:00 to 11:00 a.m, and flowers last five days. 1275 floral visitors were registered at 57h of observations. Apidae bees (Trigona spinipes and Apis mellifera) were the most frequent visitors (88,23%) followed by Muscidae flies (5,50%), Fomicidae ants (2,35%), Vespidae wasps (1,56%), and Chrysomelidae beetles (1,56%). Trochilidae hummingbirds (Chlorostilbon aureoventris) (0,79%) also visited the flowers T. spinipes was observed on all daily hours and is the probable legitimate pollinator on opposite of all other rare and irregular floral visitores. Manual pollination results showed that E. crista-galli is autocompatible, producing fruits and seeds after manual pollination and under natural conditions.