Intensity and diversity of flower-visiting insects in relation to plant density of Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk.

Abstract: The floral syndrome of Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk. (Rhamnaceae) reflects its adapta-tion to insects. We examined the blossom visitor assemblage of Z. mauritiana in relation to plant den-sity. Results indicate that flowers of this plant species are visited by 86 species of insects which con-sisted 32 species of wasps, 30 flies, 18 butterflies and 6 bees. Pollinators exhibited temporal fluctua-tions in their visits. More number of insect species visited the flowers with lower intensities (1 to 10 visits m-2 h-1). It is observed that intensity of pollinators species increases with increased plant density. Number of pollinators species and their individuals showed significant difference among the blossoms of three patches of plant density. Similarly, the diversity of pollinators was maximum on dense popula-tion and minimum on isolated plant. Resumen: El síndrome floral de Zizyphus mauritiana Lamk. (Rhamnaceae) refleja su adaptación a los insectos. Nosotros examinamos el ensamble que visita las flores de Z. mauritiana en relación con la densidad vegetal. Los resultados indican que las flores de esta especie vegetal son visitadas por 86 es-pecies de insectos, los cuales incluyeron 32 especies de avispas, 30 de moscas, 18 de mariposas y 6 de abejas. Los polinizadores exhibieron fluctuaciones temporales en sus visitas. Un mayor número de es-pecies de insectos visitaron las flores que tenías menores densidades (1 a 10 visitas m-2 h-1). Se observ