Not Sticking to Pink. Sticky Catchfly, Silene viscaria, and Eupeodes corollae, Vagrant Hoverfly, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
When you touch the stems of Silene viscaria you'll sense a stickness, an exudation from glands which can trap small insects. I'm not sure why Silene does that because it's not a carnivorous plant in the sense that it derives nutrition from those small animals. Whatever the explanation, our Hoverfly is far too big and strong to be thwarted in his quest for nutritious pollen. And he doesn't stick to pink but will court any colorful flower of which he can access nectar and pollen.
Not Sticking to Pink. Sticky Catchfly, Silene viscaria, and Eupeodes corollae, Vagrant Hoverfly, Hortus Botanicus, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
When you touch the stems of Silene viscaria you'll sense a stickness, an exudation from glands which can trap small insects. I'm not sure why Silene does that because it's not a carnivorous plant in the sense that it derives nutrition from those small animals. Whatever the explanation, our Hoverfly is far too big and strong to be thwarted in his quest for nutritious pollen. And he doesn't stick to pink but will court any colorful flower of which he can access nectar and pollen.