First Documented Case of Plant Smelling like an Ant to Attract Pollinators
In a Tokyo greenhouse, researcher Ko Mochizuki observed an unusual phenomenon. Flies swarmed around the delicate flowers of the Vincetoxicum nakaianum plant species, despite the absence of nectar or bright colors.
The blooms released a chemical signal that mimicked the scent of an injured ant, attracting the flies. This strategy is an example of the plant's ingenious deception to trick pollinators into visiting its flowers.
The plant, Vincetoxicum nakaianum, a flowering dogbane species native to Japan, has evolved to mimic the scent of ants under attack.
This discovery marks the first documented case of a plant using this unique method to attract pollinators.
Author's summary: A Japanese plant species tricks pollinators by smelling like injured ants.
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