Resumo

MILLEO, Julianne et al. Insects associated with eggplant flowers and their role in fruit production. Rev. Soc. Entomol. Argent. [online]. 2011, vol.70, n.1-2, pp.17-25. ISSN 0373-5680.

The interest in the role of insect pollination is growing, mainly in the reproduction of plants of economic interest, such as the eggplant. This study about the entomofauna associated with flowers of Solanum melongena has as objectives to identify possible pollinators' agents and to analyze the benefit of the anthophile insects to this plant. The observations and the survey of the flower visitors' insects were made in February 2008, between 7:00 am and 5:15 pm, every 45 minutes, in an area of 27 m². The experiment for analysis and comparison between spontaneous self pollination and by biological agents was made at the same place, from February to March - 2009. 631 insects were collected visiting the flowers of eggplants. Among those, stood the beetles of the genera Colaspis Fabricius, Astylus Laporte, Harmonia Mulsant, Epitrix Foudras and Diabrotica Chevrolat; and the hymenoptera of the genus Bombus Latreille. The peak of visitation occurred from 9:00 to 11:00 am, corresponding to about 36% of the sample. Of the flowers submitted to the spontaneous self pollination test, 39% set fruits, while only 11% of the emasculated flowers exposed to the process of biotic pollination set fruit.

Palavras-chave : Insecta; Solanum melongena; Floral visitor; Pollination.

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