Caring for Pollinators - Bundesamt für Naturschutz
Caring for Pollinators - Bundesamt für Naturschutz
Caring for Pollinators - Bundesamt für Naturschutz
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Hamm & Wittmann Fact sheet pollinators: Butterflies and Moth (Lepidoptera)<br />
Moth-pollinated flowers open at night. In order to be detectable they have white and<br />
ultraviolet star like corollae and emit strong sweet odors. When moths take up nectar from<br />
the deep nectar tubes, they remain on wings. As the moth gets just a small amount of<br />
nectar, they have to change the flowers frequently. This is of great advantage <strong>for</strong> the flowers<br />
as they get multiple visits which assure good pollination. Furthermore, migration of<br />
lepidopterans, like Monarch butterflies which move between Canada and Central Mexico,<br />
leads to pollen transfer over long distances.<br />
Main flower preferences<br />
Butterflies<br />
favored floral shapes flowers <strong>for</strong>med like a tube<br />
morphologic characteristics flowers often with landing plat<strong>for</strong>ms, marginally feathered<br />
anatomic characteristics fine structures<br />
favored colours red, blue, yellow<br />
colour marks yes<br />
scent milder than moth-plants<br />
nectar concealed, up to 40mm deep<br />
periodic phenomenons<br />
Moth<br />
flourish during the day, seldom close by night<br />
favored floral shapes flowers <strong>for</strong>med like a tube<br />
morphologic characteristics strongly feathered<br />
microscopic characteristics fine structures, often with a waxy surface<br />
favored colours white, dirty-yellow, greenish, reddish<br />
colour marks no<br />
scent strong and sweet<br />
nectar concealed, up to 200mm deep<br />
periodic phenomenons flourish during the night, scent during the night<br />
Composed and modified after HEß, D. (1983)<br />
Butterflies/Moths and pollinated crops<br />
The following list presents a selection of crops visited and pollinated by lepidopterans:<br />
Butterflies<br />
Anacardium<br />
Cashew<br />
occidentale (Anacardiaceae); Cephaelis ipecacuanha (Rubiaceae);<br />
Arachis hypogaea (Fabaceae); Peanut Cinchona calisaya (Rubiaceae); Quinine<br />
Macadamia ternifolia (Proteaceae); Macadamia<br />
Moth<br />
Grewia asiatica (Malvaceae); Phalsa<br />
Arthocarpus heterophyllus (Moraceae); Jackfruit Luffa acutangula (Cucurbitaceae); Angled Luffa<br />
Bombax malabaricum (Malvaceae); Indian Silk<br />
Cotton<br />
164<br />
Myristica argentea (Myristicaceae); Papuan<br />
Nutmeg
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