Abstract
Tecoma stans (Bignoniaceae) is a native of Central America but occurs throughout tropical latitudes due to cultivation as an ornamental; in India it is also normally cultivated as an ornamental tree. The plant has two anthesis schedules in a day - one during 0500-0800hrs and another during 1500-1700hrs. Different species of bees and wasps collect pollen and nectar from the flowers during daylight hours, while hawk moths collect nectar during the 0530-0700hrs and 1630-1830hrs periods. The flowers are an important source of pollen and/or nectar for these insects, and all facilitate pollination. The nectar contains three common sugars: hexoses, glucose and fructose, and it is also a source of three essential amino acids: lysine, histidine and threonine, and eight non-essential amino acids: glycine, serine, proline, arginine, glutamic acid, cystine, cysteine and alanine. With these floral rewards, T. stans sustains pollinator populations in areas where it is cultivated.
Highlights
In India, little information is available on hawk moths with reference to their relationship with plant species. Raju et al (2004) reported on the interaction of the hawkmoth, Macroglossum gyrans with certain plant species at Visakhapatnam
The nectar volume is 3.01 + 0.98μl per flower with a sugar concentration of 29.8 + 1.77%; the common sugars include hexoses, glucose and fructose amounting to 0.99 + 0.3mg
There is a significant correlation between corolla tube length and the nectar volume at 0.01 level (r = 0.655, N = 20), while there is no correlation between corolla tube length and nectar sugar concentration (r = -0.253, N = 20) (Table 1)
Summary
In India, little information is available on hawk moths with reference to their relationship with plant species. Raju et al (2004) reported on the interaction of the hawkmoth, Macroglossum gyrans with certain plant species at Visakhapatnam. The correlation between flower corolla length and nectar volume/sugar concentration was examined by statistical analysis. The foraging schedules of hawk moths were defined by making field observations. Tecoma stans flowers throughout the year, with intense flowering during October-May. The flowers open daily during 0500-0800 hr and again during 1500-1700 hr (Rao et al 2005).
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