Using raspberry pi to observe both diurnal and nocturnal pollinators of Platanthera dilatata on Vancouver Island

Insect pollinators can easily be overlooked because of their size and behaviour. Yet, identifying the particular insects involved in pollination can be important from an evolutionary and/or conservation perspective. Thus, attempts to observe and document insect pollination behaviours are becoming more reliant on technological advances. For example, recent studies have tested the applicability of handheld digital cameras, GoPros and iPod Nanos. Our goal was to identify the insect pollinators of Platanthera dilatata (white bog orchid), as previous studies provided conflicting reports between diurnal and nocturnal pollination. We used highly customizable Raspberry Pi components to construct motion-detection video units that could capture behaviours of small insects in both day and night settings. A total of 576 hours of continuous monitoring was conducted across six sites during the peak flowering period at Mt Washington, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. These units proved inexpensive (~$250 ea), weatherproof and highly sensitive, and provided high resolution video facilitating Genus-level identification. Frequently recorded species included members of Hymenoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera. Pollinia were observed being removed and carried away by members of Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera. Very little nocturnal activity was observed outside of dusk and dawn hours. These data are a valuable addition in that they: 1) document local insect biodiversity, 2) identify pollinators of P. dilatata in a previously unstudied area of its range, and 3) provide insight into pollination ecology, including the likelihood of hybridization among P. dilatata and the co-occurring P. stricta.