- C D Eardley & M W Mansell
- Biosystematics Division, Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X134, Pretoria 0001
- 1994
A survey was undertaken in two litchi orchards to determine which insects might be playing a role in pollination. The survey revealed that many different insects (± 20 spp) other than honeybees, visited the litchi blossoms. Most of these, however, were present in such low numbers that, even if they were to pollinate the flowers, their influence as pollinators of the litchi flowers can be assumed to be negligible.
It was also apparent that the aggressive behaviour of the honeybees influenced the visitation of other insects at the litchi flowers. The attractiveness of the litchi flower to honeybees, and the behaviour of the honeybees on these flowers, therefore. rule out any chance of alternative pollinators having a significant effect on the pollination of litchi in the presence of honeybees.
Summary:
- The study surveyed insect visitors to litchi flowers in two orchards to identify natural pollinators and assess their potential impact on pollination.
- A wide variety of insect species, in addition to honeybees (Apis mellifera), were recorded visiting the litchi blossoms, including carpenter bees, sweat bees, wasps, butterflies, beetles, flies, and hover flies.
- Despite the diversity, most non-honeybee insect species were present in very low numbers, suggesting their pollination influence on litchi flowers is negligible.
- Honeybees were by far the most abundant visitors in both orchards, heavily dominating flower visitation.
- The aggressive behavior of honeybees on litchi flowers appeared to deter other insect species from visiting the flowers.
- Insect visitation patterns indicated that non-honeybee insects were mostly present during periods of low honeybee activity, such as windy weather.
- The presence of nearby flowering vegetation and avocado orchards did not significantly distract or reduce honeybee visitation to the litchi flowers.
- The attractiveness of litchi flowers to honeybees and the dominance of these bees likely excludes significant pollination contributions from alternative insect pollinators in these orchards.
- The findings highlight honeybees as the primary and effective insect pollinators of litchi in the surveyed South African orchards during the flowering season.