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Occurrence of Atypical Flowers and Some Associated Bees (Apoidea) in the Peanut, Arachis hypogaea L. 1
Author(s) -
Leuck D. B.,
Hammons R. O.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
agronomy journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1435-0645
pISSN - 0002-1962
DOI - 10.2134/agronj1969.00021962006100060040x
Subject(s) - halictidae , biology , megachilidae , apoidea , arachis hypogaea , pollination , botany , agronomy , pollinator , horticulture , pollen , hymenoptera
Presence of atypical flowers in the peanut, Arachis hypogaea L., which could facilitate insect cross‐pollination by a large bee (Apoidea) species complex is investigated. Observations show that off‐type flowers are present among total flowers of at least two cultivars, that they are a complete fertile flower, that their numbers increase with increased flower production, and that they are a possible source of cross‐pollination contamination often observed among varieties in connection with pure line breeding studies in field nurseries. Six additional new records of wild bee species are identified in the flower visiting bee complex. They are: Augochloropsis metallica fulgida (Smith) (Halictidae), Chalicodoma ( Chelostomoides ) georgica (Cresson) (Megachilidae), Megachile ( Delomegachile ) addenda Cresson (Megachilidae), Melissodes ( Melissodes ) comptoides Robertson (Anthophoridae), Ceratina ( Ceratinula ) cockerelli Smith (Anthophoridae), and Ceratina ( Zadontoemrus ) dupla floridana Mitchell (Anthophoridae). The bee species found to be most abundant on peanut flowers in the vicinity of Tifton in 1967 were Pyrobombus impatiens Cresson (Apidae), Megachile ( Litomegachile ) mendica Cresson (Megachilidae), Apis mellifera L. (Apidae), and Lassioglossum ( Dialictus ) versatum (Robertson) (Halictidae).