Diversity of Diptera flower visitors of Pulsatilla grandis in the Bakony Mts (Hungary)

Abstract

Plant-insect relations are very diverse and aff ected by many diff erent factors. When the temperature is low, the number of pollinators is mostly limited. In our study we document Diptera taxa collected on the early fl owering, legally protected Pulsatilla grandis Wender. Diptera were collected on the Csatár Hill (near Veszprém) and Vörös Hill (at Balatonalmádi) in the spring of 2019. Th e average number of Diptera individuals collected per hour were 1.7 and 2.4, respectively. At both sites the frequency of visitations was the highest around midday, then became lower in the aft ernoon. Th e majority of the collected insects belonged to hoverfl ies, and the most abundant species proved to be Brachypalpus valgus. However, the proportion of collected males and females was diff erent at the two sites. Th e understanding of relations between rare plant species and their pollinators is important from the aspect of ecology and nature conservation as well.