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Diversity and feeding behaviour of insects visiting Brachiaria ruziziensis (Poaceae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2007

Léonard S.T. Ngamo ,
Fernand N.F. Tchuenguem  and
Gladys Mbofung
Léonard S.T. Ngamo*
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ngaoundéré, PO Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
Fernand N.F. Tchuenguem
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ngaoundéré, PO Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
Gladys Mbofung
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ngaoundéré, PO Box 454, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
*
*E-mail: ngamo7@swing.be
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Abstract

The diversity of visitors to flowers of the grass Brachiaria ruziziensis R. Germ and Evrard is very low in Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. Bees (Hymenoptera) and syrphids (Diptera) were observed gathering pollen, and each insect group had its own strategy depending on the prevailing environmental conditions. Syrphids are early-morning flower visitors and take time to feed on wet pollen. They visit flowers from 0630 h when the relative humidity is higher than 80% and temperature lower than 25°C. Bees gather dry pollen from 0930 h when the relative humidity is <50% and temperature>30°C, and carry it to the nests for feeding.

Keywords

pollen collectionanthophilous insectsBrachiaria ruziziensissyrphidsbeestemperaturerelative humidityCameroonPoaceae
Type
Short Communication
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 25 , Issue 3 , September 2005 , pp. 214 - 217
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2005

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