G.García-Franco et al. 2001 (Article) Tillandsia
Hummingbird Flower Mites and Tillandsia spp. (Bromeliaceae): Polyphagy in a Cloud Forest of Veracruz, Mexico
Author(s):—J. G.García-Franco, D. Martinez Burgoa & T.M. Pérez
Publication:—Biotropica 33(3): 538-542. (2001) — DOI
Abstract:—Hummingbirds flower mites are associated with almost all hummingbird-pollinated plants in the families Amaryllidaceae. Apocinaceae, Bromeliaceae, Coscaccac, Ericaceae, Gesneriaceae, Heliconiaceae, Lobeliaceae, Rubiaceae, and Zomgoberaceae (Colwel1995). These plants bloom for long periods, producing few flowers daily with few high quality pollinator rewards (Ackerman 1986). Thus, hummingbirds have to visit many flowers on several individuals, and sometimes from several specicies, in order to obtain enough resources (Ackerman 1986). Hummingbird flower mites feed on pollen and nectar (Colwell 1995, Paciorek at al 1995, Lara & Ornelas 2000), breed in the flowers. and use hummingbirds to travel between flowers ...
Keywords:—bromeliads, cloud forest, epiphytes, hummingbird flower mites, Mexico, nectar, phenology, plant-animal interaction, Tillandsia