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<p>Two species of death-camas (<i>Toxicoscordion</i>, formerly <i>Zigadenus</i>) from the western USA imbue their pollen and nectar with steroidal alkaloids, including zygacine. The toxins are tolerated by the plants’ ubiquitous pollinator, <i>Andrena astragali</i>. This bee is monolectic, visiting no other flowers for pollen. However, 20 years of additional surveys revealed a few foragers of another bee, <i>A. amphibola</i>, plus two <i>Eristalis</i> hover flies (Syrphidae) that occasionally forage from death-camas flowers at some locations. The hover flies likely detoxify the ingested alkaloids, but the apparent tolerance of zygacine by this other <i>Andrena</i> is enigmatic.</p>

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Minor exceptions to the strict co-dependency between a specialist Andrena bee and its death camas host, Toxicoscordion (Melanthiaceae)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月13日

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  • James H. Cane

摘要

Two species of death-camas (Toxicoscordion, formerly Zigadenus) from the western USA imbue their pollen and nectar with steroidal alkaloids, including zygacine. The toxins are tolerated by the plants’ ubiquitous pollinator, Andrena astragali. This bee is monolectic, visiting no other flowers for pollen. However, 20 years of additional surveys revealed a few foragers of another bee, A. amphibola, plus two Eristalis hover flies (Syrphidae) that occasionally forage from death-camas flowers at some locations. The hover flies likely detoxify the ingested alkaloids, but the apparent tolerance of zygacine by this other Andrena is enigmatic.