Visitantes Florales Y Polinizadores En Poblaciones Silvestres de Agraz (Vaccinium Meridionale) Del Bosque Andino Colombiano

Abstract

Andean blueberry (Vaccinium meridionale) is a native plant from South America with a high potential for national and international use. The aim of this study was to identify the floral visitors and potential pollinators of the Andean blueberry in two growing areas. The study was done in four samplings areas distributed in Guachetá (Cundinamarca), Ráquira and San Miguel de Sema (Boyacá) during the first blooming season of 2012. The floral visitors were recorded between 06:00 and 17:00 h, visitors behavior was recorded and pollen samples obtained from their bodies. The Pollination Probability Index (PPI) of the main visitors was calculated, and also the contribution to the pollination service through the Pollination Importance Index (PII). A total of 11 insect species was identified visiting Andean blueberry, of which Apis mellifera, Bombus hortulanus and B. rubicundus were the most frequently in all sampling areas. Both species of Bombus vibrate flowers to remove pollen, been B. hortulanus the visitor that transported the most Andean blueberry pollen. Apis mellifera visits flowers to gather nectar, but it can also transport Andean blueberry pollen. The contribution of the main visitors to the Andean blueberry pollination varies between sampling areas, been highest the contribution of A. mellifera in Guacheta-Ráquira, and the B. hortulanus in San Miguel de Sema.