Arthropod fauna recorded in flowers of apomictic Taraxacum section Ruderalia

Arthropod fauna recorded in flowers of apomictic Taraxacum section Ruderalia

Flowers of dicotyledonous plants host communities of arthropod species. We studied the community associated with dandelion (Taraxacum section Ruderalia), a complex of apomictic micro-species abundant in central Europe. Identification of microspecies in the field was impracticable. These plants produ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of entomology Vol. 113; no. 1; pp. 173 - 183
Main Authors: HONEK, Alois, MARTINKOVA, Zdenka, SKUHROVEC, Jiri, BARTAK, Miroslav, BEZDEK, Jan, BOGUSCH, Petr, HADRAVA, Jiri, HAJEK, Jiri, JANSTA, Petr, JELINEK, Josef, KIRSCHNER, Jan, KUBAN, Vitezslav, PEKAR, Stano, PRUDEK, Pavel, STYS, Pavel, SUMPICH, Jan
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Ceske Budejovice Institute of Entomology 01-01-2016
Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science
Subjects:
abundance
annual variation
arthropoda
diurnal variation
flower temperature
Flowers & plants
host communities
insecta
Insects
Microclimate
Plant nectar
plant-herbivore interactions
pollen
Seeds
taraxacum
Czech Republic
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Summary:Flowers of dicotyledonous plants host communities of arthropod species. We studied the community associated with dandelion (Taraxacum section Ruderalia), a complex of apomictic micro-species abundant in central Europe. Identification of microspecies in the field was impracticable. These plants produce an abundance of flowers that host arthropod communities that are not yet fully documented. We investigated species occurrence, its diurnal and seasonal variation and some of the factors that determine the abundance of the dominant species. Insect and spiders were collected from 2010 to 2012 at a locality in Prague. Whole capitula were harvested at weekly intervals and resident arthropods were identified. Diurnal variation in insect presence and the effect of pollen and microclimate on some of the species were also examined. The insect community (> 200 species) consisted mainly of species of Hymenoptera (86 spp.), Coleoptera (56 spp.), Diptera (46 spp.) and Heteroptera (23 spp.). The most abundant were Thysanoptera (2 spp.). Pollen eaters/collectors and nectar feeders dominated over predators and occasional visitors. From April to mid-August, the insect community was dominated by Coleoptera, and later by Diptera and Hymenoptera. Except for Meligethes spp. and species breeding in the capitula, the insects occupied flowers during the daytime when the flowers were open (10-12 h in spring and only 2-4 h in late summer). The presence of Meligethes spp. in particular flowers was associated with the presence of pollen; the occurrence of Byturus ochraceus with pollen and flower temperature. Although pollination is not necessary, dandelion plants produce both nectar and pollen. The community of arthropods that visit dandelion flowers is rich despite their being ephemeral. The composition of local faunas of flower visitors, presence of floral rewards and flower microclimate are important factors determining the composition of the flower community.
ISSN:1210-5759
1802-8829
DOI:10.14411/eje.2016.021