Oleander Flowers as Insect Traps1,2

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Abstract
Flowers of oleander, Nerium oleander L, were found with insects trapped inside their corollas. Insects, when collecting nectar, insert their mouthparts between stamens near the base of the pistil. When the mouthparts are withdrawn, the labella become lodged between adjacent sagittate anthers and trap the insects. The possible adaptive significance of this trapping phenomenon is discussed. Trapped insects consisted primarily of primary and secondary screwworm flies, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) and C. macellaria (F.), respectively, which comprised 88% of all trapped flies. The high % of these flies in oleander was due to the high population density of these insects and the scarcity of other food sources.

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