I recently learned that Red-necked False Blister Beetle (Ischnomera ruficollis) is a well-known pollinator of Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum):
Both of my earlier observations of this insect were made in the presence of trout lily, and since that's probably not a coincidence, I reviewed all of my earlier observations of flowering trout lily and found six more false blister beetles:
Of 80 total observations in Vermont, 53 observations of false blister beetle were in the process of visiting yellow trout lily.
Thanks to Tom Norton (@tsn) for providing info re this cool plant-insect interaction.
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For more details on Trout lily pollination, see Mary Holland's excellent book, Naturally Curious.
https://naturallycuriouswithmaryholland.wordpress.com/2014/05/08/trout-lilys-pollinators/
Don't miss what Mary Holland says about the clever technique that Trout lilies use to avoid getting cleaned out all at once by one efficient bee.
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