Pollinator is a housemate: <i>Aeginetia indica</i> , a parasite on <i>Miscanthus sinensis</i> , is pollinated by <i>Ceratina</i> bees nesting in its host

Abstract Aeginetia indica (Orobanchaceae) is a parasitic plant of Miscanthus sinensis with large, red‐purple, tube‐shaped flowers, though its pollinators remain unknown. Common bees may not visit its flowers under the shade of M. sinensis . We identified flower visitors of A. indica through interval photography and direct capture. All 14 photographed visitors, except for one, and 16 captured visitors were Ceratina bees (Apidae), mostly female C. flavipes . Pollen of A. indica (100–10 000 particles) was found only on the body of female C. flavipes , suggesting that they are the sole pollinators of A. indica . Ceratina flavipes is known to nest inside the stem of M. sinensis . Such a pollination system, “a mutual relationship between parasitic plants and insects inhabiting the same host plant,” has not been documented previously. The use of insects that inhabit the same host plants as pollinators appears to be a reasonable strategy and may also be found in other parasitic plants.