Philoliche as pollinators - New paper
Johnson, S. D. 2024. Long‐proboscid horseflies ( Philoliche : Tabanidae) as pollinators of co‐adapted plants in Africa and Asia. Journal of Applied Entomology
DOI:10.1111/jen.13333
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jen.13333
Abstract
Elongated nectar-feeding mouthparts have evolved in several fly families, most notablyNemestrinidae, Bombylidae and Tabanidae. Plants pollinated by these “long-proboscidflies” tend to have relatively specialized pollination systems. In this review, I focuson the blood- and nectar-feeding horsefly genus Philoliche (Tabanidae: Pangoniinae)which includes species that are important pollinators of plants in Africa and, to alesser extent, in Asia. The nectar-feeding mouthparts of flower-visiting Philoliche spe-cies range from 5 to 65 mm in length, with considerable intraspecific variation evidentin some taxa. Plants pollinated by Philoliche species tend to have corolla tubes (orhighly exerted reproductive structures) that match the proboscis dimensions of theirpollinators. Some Philoliche species and their nectar host plants show population-levelcovariation in proboscis lengths and flower depths that is indicative of co-adaptation. Isummarize existing information on the distribution and morphology of Philoliche spe-cies known to pollinate flowers as well as the identity, morphology and nectar proper-ties of plants pollinated by these insects. This survey identifies some Philoliche speciesas keystone pollinators. Distinct guilds of plants are adapted to different horsefly spe-cies in different geographical regions and are generally ecologically reliant on theseinsects, although some plant species share tabanid and nemestrinid pollinators thatare functionally similar on account of convergent evolution of their proboscis dimen-sions. Lack of information about the larval biology, nectar host plants, fire ecology anddispersal distances of Philoliche species is the biggest challenge for the conservationof these specialized pollinators and the plants that depend on them.K E Y W O R D Scoevolution, floral adaptation, floral syndrome, fly pollination, nectar, pollination, proboscislength
Comments
Very interesting Traian! More please!
@mariedelport
You may have noticed that the Albany thicket is the hotspot of morphs with long proboscis and it is an adaption to nectar plants there.
Yes, indeed.
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