Work

The pollination ecology and mouthpart morphology of a pollen‐feeding fly Incurviseta cf. maculifrons (Diptera: Lauxaniidae) in the Australian Alpine

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Flower‐visiting flies are highly diverse and abundant in high‐elevation and latitude regions, where they can be important pollinators. However, the ecology of flower‐visiting Diptera is not well researched. We recorded flower interactions and quantified the pollen loads and diet of a locally abundant Lauxaniid fly, Incurviseta cf. maculifrons (Malloch, 1925), in Kosciuszko National Park, NSW, Australia. We described the mouthpart morphology of I. cf. maculifrons using scanning electron microscope (SEM) images in relation to its pollen diet. I. cf. maculifrons visited 23 plant species at sites above and below the treeline in the Australian alpine during 1500 total minutes of observation. Gut dissections ( n = 32) revealed large quantities of pollen (median = 4118, range = 56–18,296), typically belonging to only one or two plant species per individual fly (mean = 1.59, SD = 0.67). Most flies carried small pollen loads (range = 0–108 grains) on their bodies, made up mostly of pollen from a single plant species (median proportion = 0.7). I. cf. maculifrons had mouthpart features including ‘unfurled pseudotrachea’ and interpseudotracheal sensilla which possibly assist in the manipulation and sensing of pollen. The extent of flower visitation and pollen transport by I. cf. maculifrons suggests it is a potentially important montane Australian pollinator. Future studies should investigate the ecology and anthophilous habits of other Incurviseta species as well as the dual ecosystem services by other anthophilous Diptera and their larvae to better understand how disturbances to plant‐pollinator communities will impact ecosystem processes in high‐latitude and elevation regions.

Source: Physiological Entomology

DOI: 10.1111/phen.70018

Authors: Tomas Mitchell‐Storey, Francisco Encinas‐Viso, Joshua Botti‐Anderson, Joanne M. Bennett

Institutions: Australian National University, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Charles Sturt University

Language: English

Topic: Plant and animal studies

Subfield: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,920

Funders: Australian National University, Australian Research Council