New Orchid Deception Found: Wearing The Scent Of Hornet's Prey
Friday, November 13, 2009 - 13:28
in Biology & Nature
Orchids are famous for their deceptions. Most of those with nothing of value to offer their pollinators lure them instead with the scents of more rewarding flowers or potential mates. Now, a report reveals for the first time that a species of orchid, which lives on the Chinese island of Hainan, fools its hornet pollinator by issuing a chemical that honeybees use to send an alarm.