Flower visitation and pollination efficiency of some North European butterflies

Abstract

Nectar plant utilization by butterflies was compared with the abundance of flowering plants on some SW Swedish meadows. The transportation of pollen grains by individual butterflies was analysed using a scanning electron microscope.For the majority of plant species, butteflies were of minor importance as pollinators. Some flowers with protruding sexual organs, e.g. Knautia arvensis, when heavily utilized by butterflies, might also be pollinated by these.For Dianthus deltoides and Viscaria vulgaris, butterfly pollination was found to be important.Several butterfly species, e.g. Plebicula amanda, visited legumes regularly. In spite of this, legume pollen was rarely transported by the butterflies. This suggests these butterflies act as nectar robbers among the legumes.

Enhancing floral resources for pollinators in productive agricultural grasslands

“…Legumes are important not simply in terms of their high resource value for foraging pollinators (Decourtye, et al, 2010 ;Jannersten, 1984;Mortimer, et al, 2006), but also because they are nitrogen fixing and so can reduce dependencies on inorganic fertiliser inputs (Beuselinck, et al, 1994;Rochon, et al, 2004). Indeed, establishing legumes into silage based forage systems has been shown to translate into befits for farmers averaging 137 € ha −1 in Europe (Rochon, et al, 2004).…”

“…In addition the forbs tended to flower over a longer total period throughout the year compared to the legumes, providing a more persistent resource for pollinators to feed on. Although legumes are valuable for many insect pollinators (Decourtye, et al, 2010 ;Jannersten, 1984;Mortimer, et al, 2006), different pollinator species will show preferences for other plants (Branquart and Hemptinne, 2008;Forup and Memmott, 2005;Stout, et al, 1998). Whether or not these preferences are the result of interspecific competition (Stout, et al, 1998), increasing the diversity of forage plants would still be likely to have positive consequences for insect taxa that utilise the grassland (Ebeling, et al, 2008;Potts, et al, 2009;Woodcock, et al, 2013).…”

“…The persistence of legumes is important as they represent one of the highest quality foraging resources for pollinators (Decourtye, et al, 2010 ;Jannersten, 1984;Mortimer, et al, 2006); H3) The inclusion of a forb component into legume based seed mixtures will promote a succession of floral resources extending the value of these grasslands for insect pollinators; H4) The use of summer resting periods during cutting and grazing management will extended the window for the phenological development of flower heads increasing the availability of foraging resources for insect pollinators. This increase in resource availability will result in a greater abundance and species richness of pollinators utilising the grasslands ).…”

Garden varieties: How attractive are recommended garden plants to butterflies?

“…Butterflies are an important group of insects that can act as pollinators and environmental indicators but are facing widespread decline (Jennersten 1984;Thomas 2005, Polus et al 2007; Thomas et al 2011;Forister et al 2010). Recent research has drawn attention to the resources butterflies use within their habitat (Dennis et al 2006, Dennis 2010.…”

<b>Butterfly diversity (Lepidoptera: Rhophalocera) associated with nectar feeding on <I>Ziziphus mauritiana</I> Lamarck (Rosales: Rhamnaceae) flowers in Chuadanga, Bangladesh</b>

“…They may be used opportunistically in the absence of true preferences, therefore possibly limiting maximal reproduction (Gillespie & Wratten 2013). The nectar of flowers is the main source of adult nutrition and butterflies exhibit distinct differences for flower preference (Jennersten 1984 (Jolivet 1986;Weiss 1997;DeVries et al 1999;Dosa 1999;Sourakov et al 2012). Odor sometimes acts as a synergist with color as the important cue for foraging (Ômura & Honda 2005).…”