Recurrent Visitation by Lycaenid Butterflies and Honeybees to the Same Individuals of Achyranthes bidentata (Amaranthaceae)

ABSTRACT

Generalized pollination systems, wherein a single plant species attracts diverse flower visitors, are widespread in nature. The common perennial weed Achyranthes bidentata (Amaranthaceae) is visited by diverse insects; however, detailed reports on its flower visitors are not available. Our pilot observation confirmed that A. bidentata was frequently visited by diverse insects including Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, and Diptera. We also observed the visiting patterns of the two major visitors, lycaenid butterflies and honeybees. This in‐depth observation revealed that lycaenid butterflies made long‐distance visits between individual plants, whereas honeybees were inclined to visit multiple flowers within an individual plant. These findings pave the way to study pollinator‐mediated plant–plant interactions at intraspecific and interspecific levels, such as geitonogamy and reproductive interference.