Diverse flies (Diptera) likely pollinate an alpine death camas, Anticlea elegans (Melanthiaceae)

Abstract

Several populations of a species of death camas (Anticlea elegans) (Melanthiaceae) were found growing and flowering above treeline in the remote Lemhi Mountains of southeastern Idaho USA. The predominant floral visitors were flies representing four families, particularly the Syrphidae. Many individual flies bore visible loads of Anticlea pollen. Various native bees were seen foraging in the locale, but all visited flowers other than Anticlea. The flies, as well as ants, fed from the tepal nectaries. Despite the plant’s common name, no foragers appeared to be impaired by imbibing its nectar. High in a neighbouring mountain range, A. elegans was being used as a trysting site by numerous Tenthredo sawflies. This is the first report of floral visitors to any Anticlea and among the first for any wildflower population above treeline in the vast US Intermountain West.