[Pollinator] Fwd: orchid

[Peter Bernhardt]

Dear Colleagues:

A member of NAPPC suggested we compile photos of pollinators in action on
flowers and publish them as a book.  It's a good idea.  Certainly it's as
good an idea as our annual posters and it may have a longer shelf life.

Attached, is a photo taken a couple of weeks ago by Dr. Bill Hall in
eastern Australia.  Remember, it's the middle of spring there.  I've never
seen a more attractive, natural photo of a syrphid fly in action.  Perhaps
Dr. Thompson can identify it to genus?  The insect is attempting to forage
on a sun orchid but these species offer no nectar.  It has either been
deceived by the flower's color, scent and mustache (pollen mimic) or it may
be robbing the flower of its stigmatic secretions or any loose pollen
grains.  Identification of the orchid to species is a bit difficult
although Dr Hall sent me a photo of the same flower (without the fly).  I
need to see more of the "toothy dark hood" to make a full identification.
It may be Thelymitra media or possibly T. merraniae.  Hopefully Dr. Weston,
Curator of Orchids at the RBG in Sydney will sort this out.  Anyway, I
think the fly looks very good against the blue background, don't you?

For those interested in the bees that are the usual pollinators of the
large-flowered Thelymitra species please see chapter 7 of the following
book...

http://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/D/bo18659332.html

Peter
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