Pollination of the orchidEpipactis thunbergii by syrphid flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) |
| |
Authors: | Naoto Sugiura |
| |
Institution: | (1) Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe University, 657 Kobe, Japan;(2) Present address: Division of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, 690 Matsue, Japan |
| |
Abstract: | The behavior of visitors to the flowers of the orchidEpipactis thunbergii was studied, with special attention to the role of the epichile in the pollination process. Only four species of syrphid
flies legitimately pollinated the flower, among whichSphaerophoria macrogaster was regarded as the most effective pollinator. The movable epichile, possessing a furrow at its base, played a critical role
in the pollination process: it threw the syrphid fly onto the stigmatic surface when both sides of the basal slanting surface
of the furrow were presumably pressed in the direction of the hypochile by the fore (and middle) legs of the retreating syrphid
fly. At this moment, the fly received a set of pollinia on the thorax. |
| |
Keywords: | epichile Epipactis orchid pollination syrphid flies |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|