Bromeliad Phytotelmata | Bromeliad Terraria | Pests of Bromeliads | Carnivorous Bromeliads


Bromeliad Biota

Original Painting by: William H. Bond
As Published in National Geographic 1975 147(3):393
Used with Permission of National Geographic


Sponsored by:

The University of Florida
Department of Entomology & Nematology
Gainesville, Florida

Visit us at our home page




About this page

Bromeliad phytotelmata

Many bromeliads impound water in a central cup and/or in separate leaf axils. The small bodies of water thus trapped may function as aquaria for aquatic organisms and are called phytotelmata. The animals and other organisms that live in them are not pests of bromeliads, but a few (some mosquitoes) cause problems for people.

Bromeliad terraria

Outer leaf axils of many bromeliads hold no water, but they do hold decomposing organic materials and are humid. Many species of terrestrial animals seek refuge in these bromeliad terraria, especially in the dry season in neotropical countries. These organisms are not harmful to the plants, but a few (venomous snakes and scorpions) may be harmful to people.

Pests of bromeliads

Some organisms eat bromeliads. Some are specialists, and some are not. They range from fungi and nematodes through scale insects and weevils to squirrels (in North America) and spectacled bears (in South America).

Carnivorous bromeliads

A few species of bromeliads trap and eat insects (and occasionally a few other unlucky animals).

Animals as pollinators and seed-dispersers of bromeliads

Pollination of bromeliads is by animals in all known instances. Seeds of some bromeliads are dispersed by wind, but animals disperse the seeds of others.




Plant & Insect Associations


Read about Florida's endangered bromeliads

Read about Florida's native bromeliads

Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies

Bromeliad Society International

Bromeliad Society of South Florida

Bromeliad Fauna in Brazil
part of home page of Dr. Anne Zillikens
/

We have received a Links2go Key Resource award in the Bromeliads topic!
Click on the Links2Go logo to go to the bromeliads hot list.

Key Resource
Links2Go
Bromeliads


This site is maintained by Howard Frank, Entomology & Nematology Department, University of Florida (jhfrank@ufl.edu).