POLLINATION OF DALECHAMPIA MAGNOLIIFOLIA (EUPHORBIACEAE) BY MALE EUGLOSSINE BEES

Abstract

Flowers of Dalechampia magnoliifolia in eastern Peru were pollinated primarily by male Eulaema meriana and E. cingulata , which collected fragrance from the secretory gland borne in the staminate cymule. The fragrance contains carvone oxide, benzyl acetate, limonene, α ‐pinene, myrcine, β ‐pinene/camphene, and carvone. Trigona cf. pallens was the most abundant visitor, but was primarily a pollen thief. The rate of contact with the stigmas by Trigona , and hence the bee's efficacy as a pollinator, was highly variable and was determined by variation in the separation of anthers and stigmas. Dalechampia magnoliifolia co‐occurred with a congeneric species, D. cissifolia , but did not share pollinators with it.