When you think of cunning organisms on this planet, flowers aren't usually the first to spring to mind. But researchers in Tokyo, Japan have unveiled a new example of just how diverse floral deception can be.
The scientists at the University of Tokyo have revealed that a species of dogbane plant native to Japan, Vincetoxicum nakaianum, attracts flies by emitting an odour that closely resembles ants under attack. It is the first known case of ant odor mimicry in plants.
The unique adaptation allows the flower to manipulate insect behaviour, encouraging flies to visit its blooms and carry out pollination.
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The discovery was made by Ko Mochizuki and collaborators, who initially collected the plant for reference purposes for another project he was working on.
During observations at the Koishikawa Botanical Gardens, Mochizuki noted an unusual number of chloropid flies (very small grass flies) on the flowers. Further analyses revealed that the floral scent closely mimicked the odor of ants being attacked by spiders.
Ant mimicry is widespread among invertebrates, but this represents the first documented instance of a plant employing a similar strategy.
For further evidence, Mochizuki turned to social media. There he found many examples of amateur naturalists posting exactly what he had suspected: ants getting attacked by spiders – and the flies coming in to try to steal their meals. Seeing this gave him the confidence to test his theory further.
"That moment, when I saw the flies on the flowers, was truly one of inspiration – a hypothesis suddenly taking shape," Mochizuki said. "This experience taught me that unexpected discoveries often emerge from a combination of preparation and chance."
This discovery expands current understanding of floral deception, demonstrating that plants can evolve truly sophisticated mechanisms to attract pollinators.
Main image: Qwert1234 Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
