Pollination of<i>Specklinia</i>by nectar-feeding<i>Drosophila</i>: the first reported case of a deceptive syndrome employing aggregation pheromones in Orchidaceae

Abstract

Species of the S. endotrachys group share a similar pollination syndrome. There seem to be no species-specific relationships between the orchids and the flies. It is not expected that Specklinia species will hybridize naturally as their populations do not overlap geographically. The combination of pheromone attraction and nectar feeding is likely to be a generalized pollination syndrome in Pleurothallidinae.