Pollinator Assemblages of Arisaema heterocephalum subsp. majus (Araceae), a Critically Endangered Species Endemic to Tokunoshima Island, Central Ryukyus

摘要

The pollinator assemblages of a critically endangered aroid species endemic to Tokunoshima Island (Central Ryukyus, Japan), Arisaema heterocephalum subsp. majus, were studied. The insects trapped inside the spathes were collected in the native populations. Tentative identification of the collected insects was made using DNA barcoding based on mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI). Sciaridae was the most abundant family collected, followed by Mycetophilidae, suggesting that A. heterocephalum subsp. majus depends its pollination largely on fungus gnats as reported in the other species of the genus Arisaema.