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Pollinators of the bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) observed in Kenya

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2007

Yasuyuki Morimoto ,
M Gikungu  and
Patrick Maundu
Yasuyuki Morimoto*
Affiliation:
International Plant Genetic Resource Institute (IPGRI), Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Office, c/o ICRAF, PO Box 30677, Nairobi, Kenya
M Gikungu
Affiliation:
Department of Invertebrate Zoology, and The National Museums of Kenya, PO Box 40658, Nairobi, Kenya
Patrick Maundu
Affiliation:
Kenya Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (KENRIK), The National Museums of Kenya, PO Box 40658, Nairobi, Kenya
*
*Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

The study reported examined mechanisms of pollen transfer within the genus Lagenaria, including insect vectors in the natural and cropped field environment. The major flower visitors to Lagenaria were observed for 10 months, from June 2001 to April 2002 at five sites, namely the Botanic Garden of the National Museums of Kenya, three farmers' crop fields in Dungicha village in Kilifi District, Katitika and Wayowani villages in Kitui District and the home garden of one of the authors, in Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya. Twenty-two species of insects represented in four orders belonging to 10 families were found to be the major visitors of L. siceraria flowers. From the foraging patterns of the flower visitors, visiting frequencies and development of fruits, four groups of flower visitors comprising hawkmoths (Hippotion celerio, Agrius convolvuli), moths A–D (Noctuidae spp.), skipper butterfly (Gorgyra johnstoni) and honeybee (Apis mellifera) were considered active flower visitors. Hawkmoths were suspected to be the major pollinators of this plant in the locations surveyed.

Keywords

Kenyabottle gourdLagenaria sicerariapollinatorshawkmoths
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 24 , Issue 1 , March 2004 , pp. 79 - 86
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2004

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References

references

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