Pollination of Bactris (Palmae) in an Amazon forest

Phenology, inflorescence behavior, and pollination of 10 sympatric taxa of Bactris were studied in a lowland Amazon forest. Taxa flowered over an eight month period during the rainy season and early dry season, but individual taxa flowered for one to a few months. Related taxa had mostly non-overlapping flowering periods. Inflorescence behavior was similar for all taxa, with nocturnal pistillate anthesis and temperature elevation, followed 24 hours later by rapid, nocturnal staminate anthesis. Pollinators of all taxa were small weevils Phyllotrox (Curculionidae) and nitidulids Colopterus (Nitidulidae). although various other insect visitors were recorded. Large numbers of Phyllotrox were recorded on inflorescences, but weevil sex ratios were highly skewed.