ABSTRACT:

Observations on the pollination biology of the genus Anthurium are scant in comparison to other aroid genera despite comprising nearly 33% of all aroid species. Here we report two independent observations of lepidopteran visitors in two species of Anthurium. In Costa Rica, two different species of fruit-piercing moths (Erebidae) were observed visiting two separate individuals of A. caperatum in pistillate anthesis at night; however, no evidence for pollen vectorization was obtained. In Mexico, several individuals of the 88-butterfly (Diaethria anna; Nymphalidae) were observed visiting A. podophyllum during the middle of the day. Additionally, pollen of A. podophyllum was observed deposited on the ventral abdomen of an 88-butterfly. These findings, although lacking the data needed to confirm their role as pollinators of these Anthurium, are significant in that they represent the first documentation of lepidopteran visitors for any species of aroid. A review of spadix secretions in Anthurium is also provided and an encouragement to augment the number of studies on pollination biology of this genus is offered.