Flower visitation and pollination efficiency of some North European butterflies

Abstract

Nectar plant utilization by butterflies was compared with the abundance of flowering plants on some SW Swedish meadows. The transportation of pollen grains by individual butterflies was analysed using a scanning electron microscope. For the majority of plant species, butteflies were of minor importance as pollinators. Some flowers with protruding sexual organs, e.g. Knautia arvensis, when heavily utilized by butterflies, might also be pollinated by these. For Dianthus deltoides and Viscaria vulgaris, butterfly pollination was found to be important. Several butterfly species, e.g. Plebicula amanda, visited legumes regularly. In spite of this, legume pollen was rarely transported by the butterflies. This suggests these butterflies act as nectar robbers among the legumes. © 1984 Springer-Verlag.