Rodriguezia is distributed throughout Tropical America, comprising nearly 40 species, most of them little known regarding floral biology and pollination. Rodriguezia bahiensis is endemic to northeastern region of Brazil, it bears flower features that suggest pollination by butterflies and bees. However, the population studied is associated to a large array of visitors, including bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds and Acroceridae flies, the last group being for the first time recorded as pollinators in Orchidaceae. Flowers offer low quantities of nectar as reward that together with the nectar guides imitating pollen suggests the occurrence of a combined system of reward and deceit of pollinators. Though population studied is associated with a high number of visitors, natural fruit set is low (6.57%) may be due to high frequency of pillagers and possible self-incompatibility in the studied species.
fly pollination; generalist Orchidaceae; Rodriguezia; Philopota
