Estrutura de guildas de polinizacao de Solanum aculeatissimum Jacq. e S. variabile Mart. (Solanaceae)

Abstract

Some aspects of the reproductive biology of Solanum aculeatissimum and S. variabile (Solanaceae) were considered in this study with special reference to floral visitants and their behavior. The most frequent Solanum visitors are bees of the genus Centris, Epicharis, Bombus, Oxaea and Xylocopa that collect pollen from the anthers by means of body vibration. The behavior of those bees on the flowers and their flight distances makes them important pollinators mainly to Solanum aculeatissimum that bears cross-pollination. The guild of pollination of Solanum aculeatissimum and S. variable is composed by bees of the cited genus and by bees of the genus Thygather, Pseudaugochloropsis and Euglossa.