Athena Rayne Anderson

This post is based on one that was originally published on May 22, 2011, on my blog “Pollinators Info” (no longer online).

The featured photo is of a fly, mimicking the coloration of a wasp or bee. It also has a habit of hovering before landing, hence its common name, “hover-fly.” This one is shown visiting a goldenrod, but this is not what is not typical of the fly pollination syndrome.

A typical “fly-flower” is usually dark in color, produces no nectar, and stinks like rotting flesh, dung, urine, blood… you get the idea. Flowers of this type attract flies by smelling like a good place to eat or lay eggs; some examples are skunk cabbage, pawpaw, and red trillium.

It’s common for fly-pollinated flowers to lure the fly through an elaborate tunnel or maze, depositing pollen on its body but giving it no reward! Flies are the key pollinators of one of my favorite foods: chocolate!