Fly pollination

You don’ see this very often. In the greenhouse yesterday and saw this. My first thought was, did not know that these are carnivores. This is Bulb. fascintor. The fly began to buzz and wiggle. And after about 5 minutes it got free. After looking at how the bloom captured the fly, and held it there for quite awhile as the fly struggled to get free. This must be pollination in action. I have not smelled the bloom to see if I could detect as any oder, don’t usually smell the bulbos, this plant has three blooms and another fascinator in bloom with a couple of blooms on the other side of greenhouse. Also 4/5 other bulbos in bloom in the ghouse. Cool to see how the hooks on the column held the fly right in place and made the fly work to free itself using the small hairs on the fly’s back to rake the pollin sacks. Very well done! We have to to see if any thing comes of this.

 

I did not see the fly get free, I was watering and turned my head and it was gone. It was stuck long enough for me to run and get the camera. I really don’ t know how long it was held there but we observed it for about 5 minuets. It does look like the pollen sacks where taken. The second photo shows ‘the’ flower yesterday, three days after, you can see that the hooks have been wore down and where the pollen sacks should be located. The first photo is how it looked before pollenation, intact hooks. The fly is a stable fly (Stomoxys caleitrens), I believe. We live on the edge of town, there are cows close but not close enough to hear them moo.