Florivory and related floral attributes in species of the university campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras

Abstract

Florivory is defined as the consumption of sterile or reproductive floral structures (petals, sepals, stamens and ovaries) by organisms, mostly insects, playing an important role in plant reproduction, as it can reduce reproductive success. Florivory studies are essential to understand the interactions between herbivores and plants and how these interactions affect biodiversity and seed production. The frequency of florivory was recorded in 22 plant species belonging to 15 families that inhabit the Ciudad Universitaria campus of the National Autonomous University of Honduras. The family with the highest frequency of florivory was Asteraceae, and hermaphrodite and native plants. Likewise, three groups of florivorous insects were recorded: Hemiptera with a percentage of 68.18%, Coleoptera with 27.27% and Dermaptera with 4.54%. Flowers of arboreal species showed damage only by coleopterans, while damage by hemiptera was observed in shrubs and herbs. This study provides important information to understand this type of interactions such as florivory, little studied in the forests of Honduras.