Do Mosquitoes Help Make Chocolate?
WouterDespite its popularity as a sweet treat, cacao is endangered. One-third of the crop is lost annually due to plant pests. In many parts of the world, cacao pollination is problematic. This could have serious implications for the chocolate industry.
Chocolate is made from the seeds of the cacao tree. The trees have a short flowering season, so it is important that the flowers be properly pollinated. Only 10%-20% of the flowers are successfully pollinated, limiting the fruit set.
The flowers of the cacao tree open in the late afternoon. They are the most receptive to pollination at this time. In addition, only chocolate midges can pollinate these intricate flowers. However, scientists are still unclear about the role of these insects in the wild. A new study looked at the pollination of cultivated cacao in Bolivia.
The cacao midge is a tiny fly that is most active at dusk. The female midge seeks a protein-rich pollen. This protein may be a food source for the midge’s eggs. This pollen may also be nutrition for the female’s reproductive cycle.
The cacao tree flowers are very delicate and need lots of pollen to develop into fruit. The cacao bean must first be fermented before it can be used. This fermentation requires specific microbes. In addition, the temperature of the cacao fermentation can be affected. Workers on the plant can also disrupt the fermentation process.
The pollination of cacao depends on a handful of small insects. These insects are called ceratopogonids. The cacao crop’s sustainability depends on the services of these tiny fly pollinators.
