Water-holding plants (Phytotelmata) as larval habitats for ceratoponid pollinators of cacao in Bahia, Brazil. In: Theobroma v. 8 p. 133-146, 1978.

Abstract

Ten samples of three types of water-holding piants (Phytotelmata) were examined at the end of a dry period in the cacao growing area of Bahia, Brazil for larvae of Ceratopogonidae (Diptera), potential pollinators of Theobroma cacao L. A wild flower Calathea sp. (Marantaceae) contained an average of 22.4 Culicoides n. sp. in the inter-bract Iiquid of its inflorescence, Musa (AAB Group) "banana prata" (Musaceae) contained an average of 22.4 Forcipomyia (Warmkea) sp. within its water-filled leaf-axils, and an epiphytic tank bromeliad Vriesea procera (Bromeliaceae) contained an average of 3.0 F. (Phytohelea) caribbeana also within water-filled leaf-axils Ceratopogonids in general were dominant in the Calathea community, co-dominant in banana, and third in abundance in bromeliads. Phytotelmata associated with cultivated cacao are indicated to be favorable habitats for specific ceratopogonid species. Increasing the diversity and abundance of water-holding piants may therefore increase the chances of more insect species participating in the pollination process, particularly during dry weather. However, the potential of bromeliads as sources of medically important insects, such as malaria mosquitoes, must also be considered in any attempts to manipulate the phytotelm flora in cacao plantations.