Silene otites (Caryophyllaceae) pollinated by nocturnal Lepidoptera and mosquitoes

Indications of the existence of plants of Silene otites in the dunes in The Netherlands (Coastal plants), with wind pollination additional to insect pollination, gave rise to this study. Morphological evidence, such as stickyness of pollen, together with field observations on the wind dispersal of pollen and experiments with bagged flowers, prove the absence of wind pollination. Insect visitors mainly belonged to the Lepidoptera (Microlepidoptera, Geometridae and Noctuidae) and to the Diptera (Culicidae). Observations of the dusting with pollen and of the flower visiting behaviour indicate that insects of these two types pollinate. This has finally been proved by experimental confinement of insects with bagged flowers. Neuroptera are visitors but are not pollinators. The pollination of flowers by mosquitoes is new for Europe.