POLLINATION OF THE BRITISH PRIMULAS. 111 
Observations by others on the various insects which visit the PRIMROSE 
have been recorded in considerable numbers. It is, therefore, surprising 
that Miiller should have said not a single word on the insect visitors to this 
species *. 
Knuth’s observations, made near Kiel, were, however, fairly ample, and 
he gives f the following list of insects :— 
HYMENOPTERA. 
Bombus hortorum L., Q working busily and effectively. 
Anthophora acervorum (L.) (=A, pilipes F.), 2, ditto, but less often. 
Apis mellifica L., one “ visited several flowers in succession,” and apparently 
obtained some nectar. 
LEPIDOPTERA. 
Gonepteryx rhamni (L.), fairly frequent. 
Vanessa urtice (L.),“ flying persistently from flower to flower, 21.1v.’96, sucking 
very vigorously”; “evidently succeeded in getting a part of the nectar.” 
Mr. T. R. Archer Briggs made observations in the neighbourhood of 
83 D 
Plymouth, and the following list is compiled from his record 1 :— 
HYMENOPTERA. 
Anthophora acervorum (L.) (=A. pilipes F.), ** often.” 
Andrena gwynana Kir., gathering pollen abundantly, 
Bombus ? sp. 
DIPTERA. 
Bombylius medius (L.), $ “ often." 
LEPIDOPTERA. 
Gonepterya rhamni (L.), * occasionally." 
Prof. Giovanni has observed | that, in Italy, the flowers are visitel by 
Gonepteryx rhamni ( L.). 
Prof. Bernardino Halbherr has observed || that, in Italv, the following 
beetles are found in the flowers :— 
Anthobium robustum H. 
Brachy pterus gravidus I. All, no doubt, eating the pollen. 
Meligethes umbrosus St. 
Meligethes erythropus Gyll. 
Signor Mario Bezzi records || that, near Milan, the flowers are frequented 
by Bombylius medius (L.). 
* In his ‘Fertilization of Flowers’ (1883). Possibly the plant does not grow in the 
neighbourhood of Lippstadt, where he lived, 
+ “Flower Pollination,’ ili. (1909), p. 69. 
; See ante, p. 105. 
§ The species observed was probably B. discolor, not B. medius. 
|| Fide Cobelli (see ante, p. 106 n.). 
