POLLINATING BEES AND OTHER VISITORS OF LUDWIGIA-ELEGANS (ONAGRACEAE),FLOWERS AT A TROPICAL SITE IN BRAZIL

Flowers of Ludwigia elegans present a set of generalized characteristi cs attracting visitors of several insect ram, however, they strongly d epend on bees for pollination. Bees of 32 species were observed visiti ng L. elegans flowers of which Tetraglossula bigamica is considered an efficient, oligolectic, and specialized pollinator. This bee has stif f, long and simple hairs on the scopae. The daily and annual activity patterns of T. bigamica are synchronized to the flower phenology of L. elegans. Other bee species can pollinate the flowers if their body si ze is large enough to contact the stigma during the harvest.