Data from: Ensuring pollinator presence in expanding oil crops: The case of Mystrops debilis (Nitidulidae) and the macauba palm (Acrocomia aculeata, Arecaceae)

The macauba palm (Acrocomia aculeata, Arecaceae) is a Neotropical native
oil palm, increasingly important in Central and South America due to
rising demand for raw materials and its potential for bioenergy.
Understanding its pollinator ecology is crucial to identifying new areas
for cultivation. This study examines the structure of floral visitor
communities, assesses pollinator abundances and variations, and highlights
key pollinators across different A. aculeata population growth forms
(wild, naturalized, and cultivated). We also projected optimal cultivation
areas in Brazil and Colombia based on the presence of Mystrops debilis
(Nitidulidae), a primary pollinator. Across all population growth forms,
Coleoptera were the dominant flower-visiting insects, with 49 species
recorded in association with A. aculeata inflorescences. Significant
differences in species richness were observed between growth forms.
Nonetheless, in all investigated populations, M. debilis and Andranthobius
sp.1 (Curculionidae) were consistently the most dominant species and
effective pollinators, with Pollinator Importance indices (PI) of 14.7 to
83.2% and 85.1 to 9.2% in Brazil and Colombia, respectively. Although the
two species can act as efficient pollinators, M. debilis shows greater
potential adaptability to human-altered environments due to its broad host
preferences, being associated with 34  palm species, both native
and exotic. Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) analysis identified multiple
regions across a 26.6 latitudinal range in Brazil and Colombia as
pollinator-sufficient areas for A. aculeata cultivation. In Colombia,
these areas were concentrated in the Caribbean region (departments of
Atlántico, Cesar, Magdalena, and Sucre), the Magdalena Medio region
(Antioquia, Cauca, and Cundinamarca), and the Orinoquía region (Casanare
and Meta). In Brazil, optimal pollination areas were predicted in the
Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, and Caatinga ecoregions, spanning São Paulo,
Minas Gerais, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, and Mato Grosso.
Incorporating pollinator dynamics into crop planning offers a promising
strategy to enhance cultivation success across diverse regions.