Abstract

Cherimoya (Anonna cherimola Miller) pollination is one of the most critical aspects of this crop due to protogyny dichogamy. Studies show that cherimoya tree pollination is carry on by wild insects, mainly coleopterans. However, in countries that cherimoya is not native, natural pollination is deficient. Therefore, hand- pollination is carried out, which represent 50% of operational costs of cherimoya crop. The mainly aim of this study was to characterizer flower visitors of cherimoya in central Chile. The sampleds were made during cherimoya tree blooming time in January and February of 2018, in three orchards managed with lowed pruning and herbaceous cover in Quillota district, Valparaíso region, central Chile. Was found adults of Melanophthalma Montschulsky on cherimoya flowers. Several of these individuals carried pollen of this species attached to various structures of their body, which positions species of this genus as possible pollinators of this crop in central Chile.