Pollinators and other insects associated with Arizona milkweed

 By Robert A. Behrstock

The rarely encountered wasp Smeringodynerus morelios
transfers pollinia as it takes nectar from Arizona milkweed.

Arizona milkweed is a Mexican species barely entering the United States. Small populations inhabit moist canyons in isolated “Sky Island” mountain ranges hosting numerous other tropical plants and animals. Its flowers attract a huge assortment of butterflies and other insects, and, unlike some other Southwestern milkweeds, the plant is easily propagated, making it a valuable addition to pollinator gardens and habitat restoration sites. Its value for monarch butterflies has been suggested but is unclear. Of the many insects attracted to its nectar, those serving to pollinate its flowers have not been identified.

Read the whole summary in: English & Spanish!
Read the scientific publication in JPE.

Pollinator effectiveness in the mixed-pollination system of a neotropical proteaceae

by Santiago Cárdenas et al.

O. grandiflora inflorescence. By Pedro Machado.

Pollination is a key interaction for maintaining ecological functionality in biodiverse ecosystems like the tropical Andes. When a plant is visited and seemingly pollinated by a diverse community of animals, we can better understand their unique roles by comparing their contribution to pollination.
O. grandiflora is an Andean shrub ideally suited to study pollination effectiveness among different pollinators. It is visited by hummingbirds during the day, and by night, by bats and mice.

Read the whole summary in: English!
Read the scientific publication in JPE.