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This paper discusses hoverflies attraction to the nectar drops at the bottom of page 68. It also talks about the Paphs flowers mimicking aphid colonies to attract the hover flies.Given this paper reviews all the published literature on slipper orchid pollination (in 2013), it is interesting as to why that paper you mentioned on sanderianum is not included (given that paper was published in 1994). There may not be much in it.http://www.lankesteriana.org/Lankesteriana/Vol. 13/Lankesteriana 13(1-2) 2013/13_Pemberton_pollination_of_slipper_orchids.pdfThe difference between sanderianum and other Paphs is there flowers hang over cliffs and hence can be seen from a distance. Other Paphs are more on the bottom floor hidden by trees, shrubs, rocks etc. So sanderianum would benefit from flowers that have a real visual cue. Petals that shimmer in the light would draw hover flies in and lead them up to the flower. They would be drawn up by the shimmering ladder. It doesn't appeared to have been proved yet but that is my hypothesis.
This paper discusses hoverflies attraction to the nectar drops at the bottom of page 68. It also talks about the Paphs flowers mimicking aphid colonies to attract the hover flies.
Given this paper reviews all the published literature on slipper orchid pollination (in 2013), it is interesting as to why that paper you mentioned on sanderianum is not included (given that paper was published in 1994). There may not be much in it.
http://www.lankesteriana.org/Lankesteriana/Vol. 13/Lankesteriana 13(1-2) 2013/13_Pemberton_pollination_of_slipper_orchids.pdf
The difference between sanderianum and other Paphs is there flowers hang over cliffs and hence can be seen from a distance. Other Paphs are more on the bottom floor hidden by trees, shrubs, rocks etc. So sanderianum would benefit from flowers that have a real visual cue. Petals that shimmer in the light would draw hover flies in and lead them up to the flower. They would be drawn up by the shimmering ladder. It doesn't appeared to have been proved yet but that is my hypothesis.
