PRESENTATION OUTLINE
NECTAR THIEVES ARE DAMAGING RARE ORCHIDS IN NORTH DAKOTA
Not those thieves who wear masks..... they are disguised as hawk moths and bumblebees who steal from this rare western prairie fringed orchid, (Platanthera Praeclara).
"Nectar larceny"
- the removal of nectar without pollination services
2 types of nectar larceny:
1. Thieves- access it via the natural opening to the tube or spur by using their long tongues (hawk moths)
2. Robbers- simply cut through the wall of the tube or spur to feed on nectar (bumblebees)
During the past 11years, scientists developed net and light traps to capture hawk moths and bumblebees.
They managed to capture 2 hawk moth Species (Manduca Qiunquemaculata and arguis cingulata) and 8 bumblebee species
PLANT CONSERVATION SCIENTISTS SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME THINKING OF DIRECT FACTORS THAN AFFECT RARE PLANTS. - Marion Harris (professor at North Dakota state University )
Fortunately, long tongued hawk moths live in the southern part of the US. However, if they are migrating to the north, the western prairie fringed orchid will be endangered.
This study is important because nectar larceny can be a threat to the conservation of rare plants which can cause their extinction
