1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Whole number of species observed to visit the flowers.

No. of Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths).

No. of Apidae (Bees).

No. of Diptera (Flies).

No. of Insects belonging to other groups.

Percentage of species belonging to

Lepidoptera Butterflies and Moths).

Apidae (Bees).

Diptera (Flies).

Other Insects.

COMPOSITAE.

Taraxacum officinale .

93

7

58

21

7

7.5

62.5

22.6

7.4

Cirsiu arvense .

88

7

32

24

25

7.9

36.4

27.3

28.4

Achillea millifolium. .

87

6

30

21

30

6.9

34.5

24.1

34 5

Chrysanthem. leucanth.

72

5

12

28

27

6.9

16.6

38.9

37.5

Centaurea jacea . . .

48

13

28

6

1

27

58.7

12.5

2

Carduus acanthoides .

44

4

32

3

5

9.1

72.7

6.8

11.3

Senecio jacobaea .

40

3

16

18

3

7.5

40

45

7.5

Picris hieracioides . .

29

3

16

9

1

10.3

55.2

31

3.4

Tanacetum vulgare . .

27

5

7

7

8

18.5

25 9

25.9

29 6

Eupatorium cannabinum

18

9

2

6

1

50

11.1

33.3

5.5

UMBELLIFERAE

Heracleum sphondylium

118

0

13

49

56

0

11

41.5

47.4

AEgopodium podograria

104

0

15

34

55

0

14.4

32.6

52.9

Anthriscus sylvestris

73

0

5

26

42

0

6.8

35.6

57.5

Daucus carota . .

61

2

8

19

32

3.3

13.1

31.1

52.5

Carurn carvi ....

55

1

9

21

24

1.8

16.4

38 2

43.6

Anethum graveolens

46

0

6

15

25

0

13

32.6

54.3

Sium latifolium .

32

0

0

20

12

0

0

62.5

37.5

Angelica sylvestris .

3o

1

2

11

16

3.3

6.6

36.6

53.3

Chaerophyllum temulum

23

0

1

10

12

0

4.3

43.5

52.2

Pimpinella saxifraga

23

0

3

8

12

0

13

34.8

52.2

No order of plants are more visited by insects than the Compositse and the Umbelliferae; but from the difference in the form of the flowers the species are very different. In the Umbellifers the honey, being; secreted on an open disk, is therefore open to all insects. Though the tubes of the florets of the Compositae are short, still the honey is not quite so accessible as in the Umbellifers. H. Muller gives the preceding table, which brings this out very clearly, and which also shows the care and perseverance with which he carried on his observations.

Thus, then, while in Centaurea, out of every 100 insects by which the flower is visited, no less than 58 are bees, 27 are butterflies or moths, 12 are flies, and only 2 belong to other groups; in the common Carrot on the contrary, where the honey is quite exposed, 13 in a hundred only are bees, 3 are butterflies or moths, 31 are flies, and 52 belong to other orders. If a flower with a longer tube than that of Centaurea had been selected for comparison, the difference would have been even more striking.

Araliaceae

The only European species belonging to this order is the Common Ivy (Hedera helix). It is proterandrous, and is much visited by flies and wasps.

Cornaceae

This order contains one British genus, Cornus, with two species, C. suecica the Dwarf Cornel, and C. sanguined the Common Cornel. The two species are very unlike; C. suecica being a low herb with minute flowers, which, however, are surrounded by four large, white bracts, which look like petals, and thus give the whole umbel the appearance of a single flower. C. sanguinea is a shrub which attains a height of five or six feet. The honey is secreted from a fleshy ring at the base of the pistil; it is accessible to all insects, and is much more visited by flies than by bees. The anthers and stigma mature simultaneously.

Lamium Album

Lamium Album