2015/05/29 by Mario S Pinilla-Gallego, Mario S. Pinilla‐Gallego, Guiomar Nates-Parra +2
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Insect and Pesticide Research #Plant Parasitism and Resistance #Plant and animal studies
paper · doi:10.17533/udea.acbi.v37n103a03
openalex publication_date 2015/05/29 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/25
The carpenter bees of the genus Xylocopa are some of the most efficient pollinators of many plants of the genus Passiflora and for this reason the use of “trap nest” has been proposed to increase the number of visits of these pollinators. The aim of this study was to establish the floral visitors diversity and pollination level in granadilla (Passiflora ligularis), purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. edulis) and yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa) crops, as well as explore the viability of breeding Xylocopa using trapnest. In each crop the frequency of visits of Xylocopa and other insects in two blooms were assessed, as well as fruit set and fruit characteristics. Trap nests of bamboo canes and eucalyptus logs were used. Results showed that in the purple passion fruit crop the fruit set is high despite the low frequency of Xylocopa visits, while in the granadilla and yellow passion fruit crops the fruit set could be increased. We found that Xylocopa only nested in bamboo canes in the yellow passion fruit crop, but with low success. We discuss the possible reasons for this and propose guidelines for future Xylocopa trap nest studies in Colombia. The first description of Xylocopa nasica nests in bamboo canes is made.