Flower-visiting and pollen-carrying arthropods of Leucojum aestivum L. (Amaryllidaceae) in wild, reintroduced and ex situ populations

Abstract Leucojum aestivum L. is a wetland-dependent perennial geophyte occurring in Europe and western Asia. It self-incompatible, with high level of fruit-set seed-set. Yet, its pollinators are poorly known. Here, we present the most recent research on potential . We collected data flower-visiting pollen-carrying arthropods three populations species River Po plain (N-Italy), where occurs mainly forests Alnus glutinosa Fraxinus sp. pl. close to rivers. studied wild population, new reintroduced population an ex situ located at Botanical Garden University Pavia. Our study identified 18 arthropod taxa carrying pollen; soft-winged flower beetle Dasytes plumbeus (Coleoptera: Melyridae) sac-spider Clubiona (Araneae: Clubionidae) were frequent visitors. Hymenoptera only occasionally visited flowers (e.g. sweat bee Lasioglossum punctatissimum ). D. , long-horned Grammoptera ruficornis Cerambycidae), resulted highest average abundance pollen grains their body suggesting role pollination. Differences observed between populations, decreasing taxonomic diversity visiting from population. results, based direct observation field, partially contrast previous that suggested diurnal nocturnal Lepidoptera bees as main for species.