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Flowers and their insect visitors in the arid winter rainfall region of southern Africa : Observations on permanent plots. Composition of the anthophilous insect fauna
Author
Struck, M
Publisher
Journal of Arid Environments
Publication Year
1994
Body

The composition of the anthophilous insect fauna of a plant community in the north-western Cape, South Africa, has been investigated. During a 3-year survey more than 300 species belonging to four orders and 41 families have been identified as day-active floral visitors. The vast majority are solitary bees (136 spp.), but masarine wasps (14 spp.), bombyliid flies (53 spp.), and monkey beetles (20 spp.) are also well represented. The anthophilous insect fauna of Goegab appears to be far more diverse than those of desert scrub communities in California and Chile, but equally diverse as that of a Californian Chaparral site. Compared to the latter, Goegab seems to be particularly rich in bee flies, Masarinae and possibly Eumenidae, but poorer in bees and butterflies.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Journal Volume
28
Journal Number
1
Journal Pages
45-50
Collection
Southern Africa Collection
Journal Name
Journal of Arid Environments
Keywords
anthophilous insects
Apoidea
Bombyliidae
diversity
masarine wasps
mediterranean-type climate
Namaqualand broken veld
ecosystem dynamics
insects
Africa