Nectariphagous Pollinator. Bluebottle Fly, Calliphora sp., on Erodium cicutarium, Redstem filaree, Gaasperplaspark, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Look at all those pollen grains everywhere on our Bluebottle Fly! They'll be transported probably to another flower, preferably, of course, of Redstem Filaree, because that's where they can inseminate. This Red-eye Bluebottle is clearly seeking the Sweet Stuff, nectar; you will see its proboscis extending itself to the nectar glands at the bottom of Flower's pistil. It doesn't usually eat pollen.
The Flowers of Erodium are adichogamous; that is to say that stamens (pollen) and pistils mature at the same time. That way there may be self-fertilisation. So those pollen grains you see on the pistil can well be from the same flower and they may thus also help produce seed.
Nectariphagous Pollinator. Bluebottle Fly, Calliphora sp., on Erodium cicutarium, Redstem filaree, Gaasperplaspark, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Look at all those pollen grains everywhere on our Bluebottle Fly! They'll be transported probably to another flower, preferably, of course, of Redstem Filaree, because that's where they can inseminate. This Red-eye Bluebottle is clearly seeking the Sweet Stuff, nectar; you will see its proboscis extending itself to the nectar glands at the bottom of Flower's pistil. It doesn't usually eat pollen.
The Flowers of Erodium are adichogamous; that is to say that stamens (pollen) and pistils mature at the same time. That way there may be self-fertilisation. So those pollen grains you see on the pistil can well be from the same flower and they may thus also help produce seed.