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Proctolaelaps kirmsei (Mesostigmata: Ascidae) is a specialist flower mite that feeds on pollen and nectar in flowers of Hamelia patens (Rubiaceae). We offered mites a choice between pairs of manipulated H. patens flowers in petri dishes in the laboratory, then counted the number of mites inside the flowers after 1 hour. Relative to flowers with stamens and nectaries removed, there were more mites in flowers with only stamens, with only nectaries, and with both stamens and nectaries. When offered a choice between flowers with stamens but no nectaries versus flowers with nectaries but no stamens, the mites did not show a preference. Mites preferred H. patens flowers with H. patens stamens over those with the stamens of a coexisting non-host plant (Heliconia pogonantha; Heliconiaceae) inserted, so the identity of the pollen is important in flower choice. These results and previous work on the importance of nectar show that the presence of both pollen and nectar can be used by P. kirmsei to discrimin...