ANTHOPHILOUS INSECTS OF THE CLOVA MOUNTAINS 167 



into the colour choice of the Syrphids which we have seen on 

 flowers in Glen Clova. 



The following table summarises our observations : 



It is seen from the table that Rhingia campestris, which visited 

 1 1 flowers, chose those with more or less of blue colour in them. 

 No other insect showed quite such a favouritism for that end of 

 the spectrum. Sericomyia borealis visited Scabiosa succisa freely, but 

 no other lilac-blue flower ; it therefore cannot be said to have a 

 distinct preference. Eristalis rupium and E. arbustorum seemed 

 rather to avoid the extreme of blue. Chilosia, as already said, has 

 a very marked preference for yellow, which, perhaps, is shared by 

 Chrysogaster. Among the small Syrphids there seemed to be a 

 tendency to prefer white and yellow in many species, but Platychirus 

 manicatus was found to be in no way particular in its choice of 

 colours. 



