Ecological Relationship between Hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) and Salvia bogotensis in a urban

environment

Mónica María Zamora-Carrillo1, Germán D. Amat-García2, José Luis Fernández-Alonso3

Nutzarthropoden und entomopathogene NematodenHannover, Germany

31 Nov-1 Dec

1 Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität, Institute of Horticultural Production Systems - Sect. Phytomedicine, Germany2National university of Colombia, Institute of Natural Sciences - Sect. Entomology, Colombia

3Real Botanical Garden, Madrid, España

INTRODUCTION

Why was this work done in the city?

www.google.de/maps/place

Why did we use Salvia bogotensis?

https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cordillera_Oriental

Fernández, 2008

INTRODUCTIONWhy did we work with hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae)?ClassificationKingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)Order Diptera

Family Syrphidae Subfamily Eristalinae

Syrphinae Microdontinae

SubfamilyEristalinae

SubfamilySyrphinae Subfamily

Microdontinae

GENERAL OBJECTIVETo identify and describe the ecological relationship between hoverflies and Salvia bogotensis

JUSTIFICATIONIn order to know if this plant could be a flowering plant to sow in the city to favor hoverflies insects.

MATERIALS & METHODOLOGY

Collection of hoverflies from the plants of S. bogotensis

(Thompson, F., 2006)

Vena spuria

• Botanical garden “Jose Celestino Mutis”

Materials and Methodology

Determination of species of hoverflies associated to S. bogotensis

Key of the syrphidae family of Thompson (1999)

Materials and Methodology

Morphospecies 1 Morphospecies 2 Morphospecies 3 Morphospecies 5Morphospecies 4

Morphospecies 6 Morphospecies 7 Morphospecies 8 Morphospecies 9

Characterization of Salvia bogotensis

• Morphological characterization

• Test for type of pollination

• Test for syndrome of pollination

Materials and Methodology

Behavior of hoverflies on S. bogotensis

Objective:To know benefits that S. bogotensis offers to these insects

Observation & Data Collection• Every week for 4 months• From 8 to 10 in the

morning• Every 5 minutes• In 3 plants• Every plant had on

average 45 inflorescences

Materials and Methodology

Other measured variables……

Intraespecific and interspecific competition:The displacement among members of the same family or with other families in the time the insects take the ‘food’ from the flowers.

Pollen load:The pollen load was measured to determine whether they can transport the pollen.

Hoverflies accessibility to the S. bogotensis nectar

Variables Considered• Length of the flower • Length of insect’s mouth parts• Maximum width of the flower

corolla• Width of cephalic tagma

Materials and Methodology

Hoverflies accessibility to the S. bogotensis pollen

• Characterization of pollen grains of S. Bogotensis was done with the palinology protocol of the ICN.

• Observation of the pollen content of the insects’ gutPollen grain of S. bogotensis a)

equatorial view, b) polar view

Materials and Methodology

RESULTS

Hoverflies species associated with S. bogotensis

9 species5 genera

AllograptaLejopsToxomerusPlatycheirusSyrphus

Results and Discussion

Relative frequency visits of hoverflies genera to S. bogotensis

Results and Discussion

Caracterization of Salvia bogotensis• Cross pollination• Syndrome of entomophily• They have many

characteristics that favor cross pollination

• Stamanes are inside of the corola

• Stigma is up and anteras down (Hercogamy)

• Purple color of the corola • Numerous hairs on the up

part of the corola

Results and DiscussionPictures: Monica Z.

Artificial activation of staminal levers

Behavior of the hoverflies on S. bogotensis

Observed behaviours

Consume pollen grains attach on the superior part of the corola of the flower

Take the anteras of the flower with the fore legs

Consume the pollen from anteras

Results and Discussion

Hoverflies accessibility to the S. bogotensis pollen

Pollen grains of S. bogotensis

Results and Discussion

Pollen grains a) Acaciella bolltoni (Family Mimosacea), b) Taraxacum officinale Family Asteraceae, c) Family moraceae, d) Family Euphorbiaceae

Acaciella bolltoni Taraxacum officinale

Results and Discussion

Hoverflies accessibility to the S. bogotensisnectar

Mouthparts are not long enough to get the nectar.

The average of the length of the flower corolla is 7.36 ±0.56 mm (n=50).

Width of the cephalic tagma 2,4 ± 0,48 (n=51) Width of the floral aperture 2,2 ± 0,4 (n=50).

Results and Discussion

Intraspecific and Interspecific Competition

• Displacement was not observed among individuals of hoverflies or with other families like

• One possible explanation is the high availability of these flowers on anthesis during the entire year.

a) Family Apidae, b) Family Halictidae, c) Family Megachilidae

Results and Discussion

Hoverflies Pollen Load

The pollen load was low.

The mayority of these insects were from the subfamily syrphinae (low number of hairs).

It means, they can optimize only the pollination of plants with autogamy.

Results and Discussion

• S. bogotensis could be a flowering plant which can be introduced in the crops of urban areas in Bogota because

– This plant attract 9 species of hoverflies – This plant offer pollen to them

• It is important to mention (despite it was not the objective in this study) that this plant attracts other insects of the hymenoptera order, especially bees.

CONCLUSION

Picture of Laubertie, 2007

• To introduce S. bogotensis on the programs of urban agriculture and to measure the abundance and richness of these insects before and after of its sowing.

• To measure the impact of species of hoverflies as biological control agents of aphids and pollinators in crop plants sowed in the city.

• It is important make this type of work in cities because the urban agriculture is a very essential topic in food security and hence it is needed to know natural enemies of pests and pollinators adapted to urban conditions and native plants that favour the fitness of these organisms.

OUTLOOK

Picture of Laubertie, 2007

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Thanks you for your attention

Picture of Laubertie, 2007

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• The group of the Institute of Natural Sciences of the National University of Colombia for its logistical support.

• Biology faculty of the National University of Colombia.

• Botanical Garden “José Celestino Mutis” of Bogotá.