Ivanov S.P., Fateryga A.V., Svirin S.A., Murtazaliev R.A., Fateryga V.V.
The first record of Eucera tricincta Erichson, 1835 (Hymenoptera: Apidae) as a pollinator of an endangered orchid Himantoglossum formosum (Steven) K. Koch (Orchidaceae)
Number: 506, Pages: 10 - 16
A male of Eucera (Synhalonia) tricincta Erichson, 1835 was recorded as the first known flower visitor and pollinator of Himantoglossum formosum (Steven) K. Koch. The bee specimen was carrying four pairs of the orchid pollinaria, three of which were with partially spent massulae. About a half (48.6%) of all flowers of H. formosum in the locality under study were observed to be visited by pollinators and 22.9% were pollinated. It is comparable to other species of Himantoglossum Spreng. except H. caprinum (M. Bieb.) Spreng., which has significantly lower pollination rate. Himantoglossum formosum is highly threatened in Russia, being estimated as endangered taxon, according to the IUCN categories and criteria. However, the rarity of the species is apparently not related to its pollination ecology.