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Rodent Tuber (Typhonium flagelliforme): 2. A cloud of tiny insects

on 12th December 2017

Part 1: Plant HERE.

Typhonium divaricatum pt-infl 1101

Some time ago, curious to see the flowers inside the bulbous base of the inflorescence of Rodent Tuber (Typhonium flagelliforme), I broke one open (above). What I saw was a mass of crawling tiny insects inside (below). They immediately crawled out and flew off.

Typhonium-Moth Fly (Diptera: Psychodidae)

Scouring the literature, I found out that these were the pollinating agents. They were trapped inside the inflorescence until they complete their job of transferring pollen from their body to the female flowers (below).

Typhonium flagelliforme inflo-LS

Only then, and when the male flowers have shed their pollen would they be allowed to escape from the temporary prison.

Eager to document these tiny insects escaping, I recently proceeded to video the mass escape by cutting open a mature inflorescence (above, below).

The literature states that Typhonium flagelliforme is pollinated by beetles. The above shows that the plant is also pollinated by flies or gnats LINK. Dr Leong Tzi Ming was kind enough to ID the fly as Moth Fly (Diptera: Psychodidae).

YC Wee
Singapore
27th November 2017

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

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