Fenologia de Catasetum fimbriatum (Morren) Lindl. (Catasetinae, Orchidaceae) e sua polinização por abelhas Euglossini (Hymenoptera, Apidae) na região de São Carlos-SP, Brasil.

Abstract

Catasetum fimbriatum is an epiphyte plant with a strong sexual dimorphism, witch can have inflorescences with male flowers, female flowers or mixed inflorescences. It can have also hermaphrodite flowers. In this work we studied twelve phenological events of this species, its main herbivores, visitors and the pollinator species. We used orchid populations of five locations at the central region of São Paulo state (Brazil), around São Carlos municipality. For the study of visitors/pollinator bees we used blooming plants and vanillin, eugenol and cineol traps. We trapped and stamped the bees with automotive color brilliant ink. The pollinator of C. fimbriatum is Eufriesea violascens. This orchid is also visited by E. truncata and E. cordata. E. violascens has the most specific interaction with the orchid, since, we met it in the field only when the major number of orchids were bloomed, other wise, Euglossa spp. could be seen for more time. C. fimbriatum has his development affected by the herbivores action, mainly by the larva of Riechia acraeoides (Lepidoptera). We registered 14 host species, the main are: Acrocomia aculeata, Cedrela fissilis, Gochnatia polymorpha e Anadenanthera falcata. A statistics analysis shows linear correlation to the following factors: pseudobulb diameter and male flowers number, pseudobulb diameter and plant larger height, plant larger height and male flowers number, male flowers number and fruits number, female flowers number and fruits number.