Journal
JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY
Volume 47, Issue 43-44, Pages 2719-2734Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2013.791944
Keywords
Lepidoptera; sandhill; pollination; moths; community
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Funding
- McGuire Center for Lepidoptera and Biodiversity
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The purpose of this study was to document and identify flower-settling moths within a Florida sandhill ecosystem and investigate their potential pollination capabilities. A combination of methods incorporating observation, morphology, pollen analysis and behaviour were applied. Fifty-two species of moths were documented taking nectar on flowers. A novel nectar-feeding behaviour categorized as fluttering resulted in increased pollen collection. Significant morphological match of moth proboscis length with flower corolla length was found. A preliminary list of sandhill moths is presented, and a pollen library of flowers found throughout the study area was created. This study was the first to conduct observations of settling moths in upland pine communities, and offers a rare glimpse into the interactions of moths with flowers within a unique ecosystem.
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