Dípteros asociados a la floración del aguacate Persea americana Mill cv. Hass en Cauca, Colombia

Abstract

There is a high diversity of insects associated to the flowering of avocado plants. Although bees are the main pollinators of the crop, species of different trophic guilds visit avocado inflorescences, yet little is known about them. In the municipality of Morales, Cauca, Colombia, two plots were selected and four trees were randomly selected from each one. Insects were collected with a net every hour for 20 minutes and the behavior of visiting insects was recorded in 10 inflorescences/tree. Insect collecting and observations were carried between 07:00-17:00 hours. The periods of visit to the flowers and the pollen load of the insects were evaluated weekly. Evaluations were carried out during two flowering periods. A high diversity of species was found associated with avocado inflorescences, being particularly higher in the order Diptera, with species such as Lucilia eximia, Chrysomya putoria, Palpada scutellaris and Ornidia obesa . Insect floral visitors presented peaks between 10:00-11:00 and 14:00-15:00 hours. Although a low amount of pollen on their bodies was observed, insects were collecting nectar, copulating or perched on flowers. This research shows that there is a high diversity of dipterans associated with the flowering of Persea americana that could contribute to pollen dispersal in orchards and associated biological functions.