Anthophylous insects diversity and biochemical specificity of nectar and of the genus Serratula

The study was conducted near the city of Syktyvkar (the Komi Republic). The objects of study were three introduced species of the genus Serratula: S. coronata L., S. inermis Gilib., S. quinquefolia M. Bieb. ex Willd. Comparative characterization of complexes of insect pollinators of three species of the genus Serratula in the middle taiga of the Komi Republic is shown. It is established that the complex includes 51 species of insects of five orders. The dominant group of anthophilous insects for representatives of the genus Serratula are bumblebees. Of the 21 species of bumblebees found on the plants, the most common are Bombus jonellus (Kirby), B. pascuorum (Scopoli) and B. sporadicus Nylander, two species – B. sporadicus and B. schrencki Morawitz, included in the Red Data Book of the Komi Republic (2009). The largest share of bumblebees was marked on S. quinquefolia (up to 94% of the total number of insect pollinators). In the nectar of all three species of the genus Serratula discovered 20-hydroxyecdysone. In S. сoronata, also detected the minor component inokosterone and ecdysone. The nectar of the genus Serratula, assembled in the period of mass flowering, contains three main carbohydrate components: sucrose, fructose, and glucose. As for the quantitative content of all types, sucrose dominates. In the nectar of S. quinquefolia its content reaches 50%. The presence of ecdysteroids in the composition of the nectar of plants speaks about possible involvement of these compounds as regulators in the near and far ecological relationships in terrestrial ecosystems.