Fig 1.
Process of vanilla flower anthesis documenting the separation of the top sepal (ts) and the superior margin of the labellum (lb) over time.
Table 1.
Summary of experiments to assess pollination rates of vanilla in southern Mexico.
The number of flowers (fl) and the number of pods produced are presented from which the pollination rate was estimated for each treatment (%). In parentheses the number of pods produced per experimental flowers per plant and in superscript the number of flowers where bees were observed.
Fig 2.
The different bee species found on the vanilla planting in the Yucatan are shown with their relative body size.
Specimens on the top row are stingless bees and on the bottom row are orchid bees. A colony of M. beecheii was introduced into the planting.
Fig 3.
Box plots of the frequency of male orchid bees counted on lures of 1,4 dimethoxybenzene, eugenol and β-lonone placed in the vanilla plot.
Squares, diamonds, circles and triangles indicate the mean values at each time.
Fig 4.
Box plot of the daily activity of M. beecheii workers measured by the number of bees entering and exiting a colony experimentally placed in the vanilla plot.
Triangles indicate mean values.
Fig 5.
Box plots of the daily activity of Euglossa males as measured by the number of bees on 1,4 dimethoxybenzene and eugenol chemical lures placed in the vanilla plot during the application of the same chemical attractants to flowers.
Circles and triangles indicate the mean values at each time.