Interaction between the orchid Stelis gargantua and the love bugs (Diptera-Bibionidae)

Several insect species visit the flowers of Stelis gargantua, an orchid native to El Refugio and surroundings. But only the so called 'love bugs' (Diptera of the family Bibionidae) are able to remove the pollinaria of the orchid.  These observations suggest that the Bibionidae are the pollinators of this orchid species. Details can be seen in the paper published in Orchids (Lindleyana), November 2012: 692 (see PDF below).

Stelis gargantua: Removal of Pollinaria by Diptera-Bibionidae at El Refugio Nature Reservation
StelisGargantua_Bibionidae_EduardoCalder
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