Studying Helmet orchid Polinators

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parkview
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Studying Helmet orchid Polinators

Post by parkview » Wed Jul 09, 2014 9:19 pm

I was looking to build an automated orchid pollinator photography rig:
RPi_Polinator-trap.jpg
RPi_Polinator-trap.jpg (29.8 KiB) Viewed 3020 times


however, I have since realised that the suspected pollinator I am currently looking at at the moment is a fungus gnat. It's about the same size or a bit smaller than a mosquito, so I think it would be struggle to detect it once it was entering or exiting a small Helmet Orchid flower:
helmet-orchid.jpg
helmet-orchid.jpg (33.2 KiB) Viewed 3020 times

The leaf is approx. 20-25mm across, and the flower perhaps 10mm.

Plan B, is to use a sticky substance aptly called 'tanglefoot' (http://www.entosupplies.com.au/equipmen ... ap-coating) painted onto a clear plastic sheet and pegged to fly like a flag above the flower. Hopefully I might catch one that has a pollinia sack on it's back.

Here is an example of a male bull ant that landed on my iPhone back on April:
bull-ant-on-iphone.jpg
bull-ant-on-iphone.jpg (18.72 KiB) Viewed 3020 times


I was so surprised, I only managed to get a few photos of it before it flew away :cry: You can see the small yellow pollen sack (called a pollinia), on it's back.

There will be many hours over the next 6 weeks or so spent out in the rain and mosquito ridden swamp land working on this project.

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Jubbp
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Location: Bunbury WA
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Re: Studying Helmet orchid Polinators

Post by Jubbp » Sat Jul 19, 2014 9:50 pm

My old man will be happy your finally found a good use for the iPhone :lol: (We have many "discussions" about his Samsung "mines bigger than yours" s5)

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