Author: Williams, I.H.
Language: English
Year of publication: 1977
Number of pages: 10
Type of publication: Article
Journal: Tropical Agriculture
Edition: 54 (4)
Pages in original publication: 353-363
Publication location: Text on this website
Country: India
Region: South East Asia

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Of the 48 insect species (of 7 orders) captured on C. cajan flowers on 4 plots, Megachile species accounted for 31% of the total number of insects caught, and Apis dorsata for 4.5%; a single Apis florea was caught. bees collected both nectar and pollen from the flowers. The foraging behaviour of A. dorsata, A. florea, Megachile spp. and Xylocopa spp. was observed on a fifth plot, and is described in detail. A. dorsata and Megachile spp. discriminated between a cultivar with flowers of normal structure (prefered by Megachile) and one with flowers of a modified structure (preffered by A. dorsata). Although most insects carried some C. cajan pollen, it is thought that Megachile spp. are responsible for most of the crosspollination which occurs.