Floral Visitors Associated With the Cultivation of Achira (Canna indica) in Different Altitudinal Zones in the Department of Huila

Abstract

The achira crop (Canna indica) is an ancestral symbol of the department of Huila. According to the Regional Information System (SIR) of the Governor's Office of Huila, the area planted annually with achira in the department for 2020 was 82.3 ha, and the local demand for starch (400 tons/year) is imported from other departments (Cundinamarca and Nariño). Beyond its economic potential, achira contributes to ecosystem services. Its organic management, limited to cultural practices, helps mitigate pollinator population decline, particularly among wild bees. The problems caused by the growth of areas planted in coffee and other conventionally managed crops make it crucial to better understand the relationship between biodiversity and agricultural production; therefore, it is imperative to develop sustainable management strategies that promote the conservation of floral visitors, pollinators, and biodiversity in general. This study aims to characterize the diversity of floral visitors in Achira (Canna indica) crops across different altitudinal zones in the department of Huila, characterizing the study area, identifying native bees and floral visitors in the crop through fieldwork conducted on three farms located in the municipalities of Garzón and San Agustín. The variations in altitudinal zones may affect the distribution of native bee species and other visitors, reducing their abundance. Further studies are recommended to establish a direct correlation between altitude and floral visitor diversity. Organic crops of high cultural value, such as (Canna edulis), represent an alternative to safe conditions to stimulate the visit of wild bees and other insects that can be considered of high economic value due to their biological importance in agroecosystems.