| Information concerning insect pollinators of Piperaceae taxa is limited based on available data. Of the five genera currently recognized in this family, pollination studies have focused on the two largest genera, Peperomia and Piper, mostly from Central and South America. The intent of this study was to determine if insect pollination occurs in Piper glabrescens, P. hispidum, P. jacquemontianum, and P. umbellatum, four common species that occur in the Rio Abajo Forest Preserve in Puerto Rico.;Two collecting events were conducted, 2-12 January and 1-5 June 2013, respectively. Piper glabrescens and P. umbellatum were studied in January, and P. hispidum, P. jacquemontianum, and P. umbellatum in June, because these were the only species in flower during those periods. Representative insect vouchers were examined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to confirm the presence of any Piper pollen. SEM images indicated that Piper pollen was present on some of the individuals that were chosen for examination. In both January and June, the main pollinators of all pipers were syrphid flies, which is reflective of two studies conducted in southeastern Brazil on Piperaceae. The next most abundant pollinator was a drosophilid fly, Leucophenga, which was also found on all pipers. As a result of this study, insects were confirmed as pollination vectors for the four species of Piper examined. |
