Neottia cordata [pollination & insect interaction]

 Heart Leaved Twayblade [Neottia cordata] showing the flower swelling with pollinia [pollen] below the column. Northeastern, Pa. 5-3-25

Fungus Gnat [Mycetophilidae] in the act of pollinating Heart Leaved Twayblade [Neottia cordata]. Northeastern, Pa. 5-3-25

I observed this Fungus Gnat [Mycetophilidae] for well over an hour in the act feeding on the pollen contained in the coloum of the flower and inadvertently pollinating this Heart Leaved Twayblade [Neottia cordata]. In the process the gnat would dislodge tiny grains of pollen from the column that fell on the lip below, the gnat would leave the column from time to to go to the lip below to feed on these tiny grains of pollen [seen at the mouth of the gnat]. Northeastern, Pa. 5-3-25

Fungus Gnat [Mycetophilidae] in the act of pollinating Heart Leaved Twayblade [Neottia cordata]. Northeastern, Pa. 5-3-25

Fungus Gnat [Mycetophilidae] in the act of pollinating Heart Leaved Twayblade [Neottia cordata]. Northeastern, Pa. 5-3-25

Heart Leaved Twayblade [Neottia cordata] with pollinia having ben removed by unknown insect. Northeastern. Pa. 5-3-25

This Fungus Gnat visiting the Flower of a Heart Leaved Twayblade [Neottia cordata] has met its demise at the hands of a Meshweaver spider [Nigma flavescens]. Northeastern, Pa. 5-3-25

Meshweaver Spider [Nigma flavescens] hunting on a Heart Leaved Twayblade [Neottia cordata]. Northeastern, Pa. 5-3-25

Meshweaver Spider [Nigma flavescens] hunting on a Heart Leaved Twayblade [Neottia cordata]. Northeastern, Pa. 5-3-25

Fungus Gnat [Mycetophilidae] in the act of pollinating Heart Leaved Twayblade [Neottia cordata]. Northeastern, Pa. 5-3-25

Fungus Gnat [Mycetophilidae] in the act of pollinating Heart Leaved Twayblade [Neottia cordata]. Northeastern, Pa. 5-3-25

Fungus Gnat [Mycetophilidae] in the act of pollinating Heart Leaved Twayblade [Neottia cordata]. Northeastern, Pa. 5-3-25

This Nigma Flavescens a species of Meshweavers spider has made a web in a Heart Leaved Twayblade [Neottia cordata], in preparation for the Fungus Gnats that would inevitably come. Fungus Gnats are a known pollinator of this plant, and I counted at least five that were caught in web. The intricate web the spider had spun covered all the flowers on this particular plant and was the perfect trap. Northeastern, Pa. 5-3-24 [above & below]

This Nigma Flavescens a species of Meshweavers spider has made a web in a Heart Leaved Twayblade [Neottia cordata]. In preparation for the Fungus Gnats that would inevitably come. Fungus Gnats are a known pollinator of this plant, and I counted at least five that were caught in web. The intricate web the spider had spun covered all the flowers on this particular plant and was the perfect trap. Northeastern, Pa. 5-3-24

This Nigma Flavescens a species of Meshweavers spider has made a web in a Heart Leaved Twayblade [Neottia cordata]. In preparation for the Fungus Gnats that would inevitably come. Fungus Gnats are a known pollinator of this plant, and I counted at least five that were caught in web. The intricate web the spider had spun covered all the flowers on this particular plant and was the perfect trap. Northeastern, Pa. 5-3-24

This Nigma Flavescens a species of Meshweavers spider has made a web in a Heart Leaved Twayblade [Neottia cordata]. In preparation for the Fungus Gnats that would inevitably come. Fungus Gnats are a known pollinator of this plant, and I counted at least five that were caught in web. The intricate web the spider had spun covered all the flowers on this particular plant and was the perfect trap. Northeastern, Pa. 5-3-24

This Nigma Flavescens a species of Meshweavers spider has made a web in a Heart Leaved Twayblade [Neottia cordata]. In preparation for the Fungus Gnats that would inevitably come. Fungus Gnats are a known pollinator of this plant, and I counted at least five that were caught in web. The intricate web the spider had spun covered all the flowers on this particular plant and was the perfect trap. Northeastern, Pa. 5-3-24

This series of pictures shows two different insects on Neottia cordata. Fungus Gnat [known pollinator for this plant] and a unknown wasp [possible pollinator] Northeastern, Pa. 5-5-21. Please scroll down to view individual pictures.

Unknown wasp [a possible pollinator] on Neottia cordata. Northeastern, Pa. 5-5-21 

Fungus gnat [a known pollinator] on Neottia cordata. Northeastern, Pa. 5-5-21​

Fungus gnat [a known pollinator] on Neottia cordata. Northeastern, Pa. 5-5-21​

Fungus gnat [a known pollinator] on Neottia cordata. Northeastern, Pa. 5-5-21​

Fungus gnat [a known pollinator] on Neottia cordata. Northeastern, Pa. 5-5-21​

Fungus gnat [a known pollinator] on Neottia cordata. Northeastern, Pa. 5-5-21​

Fungus gnat [a known pollinator] on Neottia cordata. Northeastern, Pa. 5-5-21​