Anthecological relations between reputedly anemophilous flowers and syrphid flies. II. Plantago media L.

After intensive field work in Upper Hessia (W. Germany) the authors have come to the conclusion that although Plantago media L. is most probably visited much more frequently and by a wider range of insects than P. lanceolata L.. syrphid flies of the Melanostoma-Platycheirus group play a negligible role in the pollen transfer of P. media. The possible reason for this unexpected result is anything but clear and only a tentative possibility is suggested.