Question

Flowering plants sometimes trick insects into being pollinators without providing reward. Orchids are a type of plant that tricks insects into attempting to mate w it (pseudocopulation). What type of insect does the plant trick?

Answer 1

Orchids attract male wasps and bees for pollination through sexual deception; by mimicking female wasps or bees in appearance and scent, they trick male wasps or bees into attempting to mate with the flowers, which results in pollination.

Step-by-step explanation:

Orchids engage in a form of deception to attract pollinators without offering the typical food reward like nectar. One specific type of insect that orchids manipulate via pseudocopulation is the male wasp. Orchids, like the Australian hammer orchid, mimic the appearance and pheromone scent of a female wasp. The male wasps are lured to the flower under the guise of finding a mate. While attempting pseudocopulation, they inadvertently pick up pollen and transport it to the next deceptive orchid they encounter.

Another example is the bee orchid (Ophrys apifera), which also employs sexual deception to attract pollinators. In this case, the shape and color of the flower closely resemble a female bee, enticing male bees to try and mate with the flower, resulting in pollination.