The Orchid that Pretends It's A Wasp
Clip: Episode 3 | 3m 38sVideo has Closed Captions
The Hammer Orchid emits the scent of the female thynnid wasp to confuse the male.
The Hammer Orchid does not look like a flower and has no nectar but also needs to attract a pollinator. This plant's strategy is to synchronize with the mating season of the thynnid wasp, attracting males by emitting a similar scent to that of the female. And since the orchid looks similar to the female, the male it attempts to mate with it.
The Orchid that Pretends It's A Wasp
Clip: Episode 3 | 3m 38sVideo has Closed Captions
The Hammer Orchid does not look like a flower and has no nectar but also needs to attract a pollinator. This plant's strategy is to synchronize with the mating season of the thynnid wasp, attracting males by emitting a similar scent to that of the female. And since the orchid looks similar to the female, the male it attempts to mate with it.
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