Abstract
AMONG Diptera the most assiduous visitors of flowers are certain Syrphidæ, which, elegantly coloured themselves, are fond of splendid flower-colours, and, before eating pollen or sucking nectar, like to stop a while, hovering free in the air, in front of their favourites, apparently fascinated, or at least delighted, by the brilliancy of their colours. Thus I repeatedly observed Syrphus balteatus hovering before the flowers of Verbascum nigruim often Melanostoma mellina, and Ascia podagrica before Veronica chamædrys; in the Alps the lank Sphegina clunipes before Saxifraga rotundifolia, and in my garden Ascia podagrica before Saxifraga umbrosa.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
MÜLLER, H. “Saxifraga umbrosa” adorned with Brilliant Colours by the Selection of Syrphidæ. Nature 22, 219 (1880). https://doi.org/10.1038/022219c0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/022219c0
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.