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1 September 2010 Visitors to Southeastern Hawkmoth Flowers
Sean P. Graham
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Abstract

Despite global concern for the status of animal pollinators, studies on pollination systems in the southeastern United States are disproportionately low compared to the diversity of this region. For example, sphingophilous, or hawkmoth-attracting plants, occur in the southeastern US, but confirmation is lacking for the large, long-tongued hawkmoths predicted to visit these flowers by previous researchers. Hymenocallis coronaria (Shoals Spider Lily, or Cahaba Lily), H. occidentalis (Woodland Spider Lily), Oenothera biennis (Common Evening Primrose), and O. grandiflora (Large-flowered Evening Primrose) were studied to confirm this prediction. Manduca rustica (Rustic Sphinx) was confirmed as a frequent visitor to all four plant species studied. M. sexta (Carolina Sphinx) was confirmed for three of the four plants. To determine the range of animal visitors to these plants, three of the plant species were observed during day- and night-observation periods, and total visitation was compared between these times. For H. coronaria, flower-visitation rates did not differ between day and night periods. H. occidentalis and O. biennis were visited significantly more during night hours than during the day. Although hawkmoths are frequent visitors to H. occidentalis and O. biennis, and are probably their most efficient pollinators, Archilochus colubris (Ruby-throated Hummingbird) may also play a role in the pollination of H. coronaria.

Sean P. Graham "Visitors to Southeastern Hawkmoth Flowers," Southeastern Naturalist 9(3), 413-426, (1 September 2010). https://doi.org/10.1656/058.009.0301
Published: 1 September 2010
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