Flower-Visiting
Insects
of Showy Lady's Slipper
Cypripedium reginae (Showy Lady's Slipper)
(Bees and other insects are lured to the flower of this orchid by deception, as it provides neither nectar nor accessible pollen. According to Guignard, bees are the only effective pollinators. However, Vogt has claimed that other insects, including Syrphid flies and Scarab beetles, are sometimes effective pollinators. The skippers were ineffective at pollination because they entered the lip of the flower and became trapped there. Observations are from Guignard, Stoutamire, Vogt, and Stevens.)
Bees (long-tongued)
Megachilidae (Megachilini): Megachile centuncularis exp (Gu), Megachile melanophaea exp (Gu, Stv)
Skippers
Hesperiidae: Polites mystic exp np (Stm), Polites themistocles exp np (Stm), Thymelicus lineola exp np (Stm)
Flies
Syrphidae: Syrphus torvus exp (Vgt)
Beetles
Scarabaeidae: Trichiotinus affinis exp gnw np (Stm) Trichiotinus assimilis exp (Vgt); Staphylinidae: Eusphalerum convexum exp np (Stm)