VIABILITY OF POLLEN CARRIED BY APIS MELLIFERA L. TRIGONA CARBONARIA SMITH AND VESPULA GERMANICA (F.) (HYMENOPTERA: APIDAE, VESPIDAE)

Antibiotics on the surface of ants inhibit pathogenic microorganisms and significantly lower pollen viability. However, the viability of pollen in contact with the integument of Apis mellifera L. and Vespula germanica (F.) is not significantly lowered. Trigona carbonaria Smith induces some reduction in pollen viability and this may be the effect of resins harvested for nest construction. The disruption of pollen function by T. carbonaria is much less severe than that produced by ants. Differential integumental effects on pollen are consistent with the relative abundance of bee, wasp and ant pollination systems, particularly the extreme rarity of pollination by ants.