Poor fruit set due to lack of pollinators in Aristolochia manshuriensis (Aristolochiaceae)

Background and aims – Interactions of insects with trap flowers Aristolochia manshuriensis, a relic woody liana fragmented natural populations from south-eastern Russia, were studied. Pollination experiments conducted to identify the causes poor fruit set in this plant.Material methods The study was carried out at two ex situ sites within range A. manshuriensis suburban zone city Vladivostok (Russia). floral morphology examined verify how it may affect process pollination species. To test for probability self-pollination, randomly selected female phase anthesis (day 1 limb opening) hand-pollinated pollen same plant. daily insect visitation limitation coefficient number visitors determined. that lay eggs on flowers, reared collected fallen flowers. Both caught identified.Key results colour pattern are adapted temporarily certain size. hand-pollination experiment showed plant capable self-pollination by geitonogamy require pollinator successful pollination. positive value (2.64) indicates higher after compared control without low (0.17 per flower day). Insects three orders observed flowers: Diptera (up 90.9%), Coleoptera (8.3%), Hymenoptera (0.8%). Four species flies (Scaptomyza pallida, Drosophila transversa (Drosophilidae), Botanophila fugax, sp. (Anthomyiidae)) transferring up 2500–4000 grains their bodies can be considered as pollinators manshuriensis. Data rearing indicate families Drosophilidae (S. D. transversa), Chloropidae (Elachiptera tuberculifera, E. sibirica, Conioscinella divitis), Anthomyiidae (B. B. 1) use eggs. Beetles also but they probably not involved pollination, because no them during our study.Conclusions Pollinators include mainly (2%) is associated due lack pollinators, extremely low. This fact highly specialized size