10.5061/DRYAD.X3FFBG7F9
Du, Bo
0000-0003-1128-9164
Lanzhou University
Gao, Li‐Fang
Lanzhou University
Wang, Yu‐Jie
Lanzhou University
Zhang, Hai‐Yang
Lanzhou University
Zhang, Wen
Lanzhou University
Zhang, Xiao‐Dan
Lanzhou University
Zhu, Zhen‐Qin
Lanzhou University
Data from: Insect pollinators show constancy for different flower traits
between the most‐ and less‐preferred plants: a case study of the
long‐proboscid tangle‐veined fly
Dryad
dataset
2020
Dietary investigation
flower constancy
nectar selection
National Natural Science Foundation of China
https://ror.org/01h0zpd94
Grant 31772465 and 31572271
National Natural Science Foundation of China
https://ror.org/01h0zpd94
Grant 31772465
National Natural Science Foundation of China
https://ror.org/01h0zpd94
31572271
2020-04-16T00:00:00Z
2020-04-16T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/een.12870
18534 bytes
5
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
1. The coevolution of insect pollinators and their host plants is a
typical example of natural selection; however, it remains unclear as to
how insect pollinators avoid overdependence on one peculiar plant. As most
insect pollinators exhibit a diet breadth when showing flower constancy,
to determine the difference and similarity of most and less-preferred
flowers by insect pollinators may be helpful to understand their trade-off
between flower constancy and overdependence. 2. We addressed this question
in the long-proboscid tangle-veined fly (Nemetrinus spp.). Dietary
investigation indicates that the flies show constancy for the
morphological characteristic of the Delphinium caeruleum, which is the
most preferred plant for this Nemestrinidae fly that has blue, long-tubed
flowers. 3. In a colour selection experiment, focal individuals showed
obvious preference for white, which is the colour of less-preferred
flowers by the fly in the natural environment. In a scent selection
experiment, focal individuals showed obvious preference for D. caeruleum
and Dracocephalum heterophyllum, but avoidance to Dasiphora fruticosa and
Dasiphora davurica. This indicates that long-proboscid tangle-veined flies
can forage on other flowers, even the existing of constancy for D.
caeruleum, as long as they do not hate the scent. It seems that
long-proboscid tangle-veined flies can maximize foraging efficiency by
showing constancy for the morphological characteristic of the most
preferred plant and for the scent and colour of less-preferred plants. 4.
The tradeoff of long-proboscid tangle-veined fly in selection of nectar
sources may be an adaptation to the risk of overdependence on one plant in
evolution.
We have collected the dataset in the field. It has not been processed.