Evaluation on floral visitors of Zingiber spectabile (Zingiberaceae) at Gua Ikan, Kelantan, Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

Insects are the well-known pollinators of angiosperm plants. However, the discovery of specific insect pollinators of a specific plant is still lacking in many angiosperms. Family Zingiberaceae which is also known as a ginger family, is one of the least explored angiosperms in the aspect of plant-pollinator interaction. Hence, this study was conducted to understand the interaction between Zingiber spectabile and pollinators. The aims of the study are i) to determine the floral blooming period of Z. spectabile; ii) to identify floral visitor of Z. spectabile; iii) to identify the insect pollinators of Z. spectabile. The study was conducted in the limestone forest of Gua Ikan (Dabong, Kelantan) in September 2020. Direct observation method was used to achieve the above-mentioned objectives. Observation was performed from 0700 hours to 2000 hours. A floral visitor was counted as pollinator when the insect touches the sexual organs of the flower. This study reveals that flower of Z. spectabile have a lifespan of less than a day. Flower opening (anthesis) starts at 1000 hours while flower closure time starts at 2000 hours. An inflorescence of Z. spectabile produce one to three flowers per day. Insect order Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera are the common floral visitors of the Z. spectabile. However, among the floral visitors, order Diptera, Hemiptera and Lepidoptera were found to play the role of pollinator for Z. spectabile. This study reveals the fundamental information about pollinators of Z. spectabile. Further detailed study is recommended to reveal the effects of floral scent in attracting the pollinators as further evaluation of Zingiberaceae-pollinator interaction.