Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    andyhall's Avatar
    andyhall Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Mar 31, 2011, 03:16 PM
    How can a plant mimic an insects body
    Plants often mimic female insects bodies to attract males to their flowers to pass on pollen so that the plant can be cross pollinated how does the plant do this when it doesn't have any vision
    Wondergirl's Avatar
    Wondergirl Posts: 39,354, Reputation: 5431
    Jobs & Parenting Expert
     
    #2

    Mar 31, 2011, 03:42 PM

    Google is your friend.

    Plants don't need vision.

    Celebrating Wildflowers - Plant Pollination Strategies - Mimicry
    jcaron2's Avatar
    jcaron2 Posts: 986, Reputation: 204
    Senior Member
     
    #3

    Mar 31, 2011, 08:36 PM
    I didn't check out Wondergirl's link; it might say the same thing as I'm about to say:

    According to the theory of evolution and natural selection, random genetic variations among flowers happen from time to time. If a particular variation happens to make the plant look a little more like a female insect, that plant will be slightly more likely to be visited by the male insects, so it's a got a small advantage in propagating its improved genetic code versus its normal sibling flowers. Hence, there's a chance that after a while all of the plants will develop this new characteristic. Over the course of thousands or millions of years, the species can grow to very accurately mimic a female insect. This happens not because the plant could "see" what the females looked like or was capable of changing its own structure to mimic them, but rather because the random variations that made it look more and more like a female insect simply gave it a competitive advantage over the plants that didn't look so convincing. So really, it's the male insects who can see and who inadvertently "sculpt" the plant into a decoy.

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Does any presciption drug mimic marijuana on drug test? [ 8 Answers ]

Are there any presciption drugs that mimic marijuana on a pee test? Also, does eating asparagus have any impact since it is an alkaline vegetable? Thanks.

I want to start dal mill plant tell me about process and plant and capital requir [ 2 Answers ]

Res sir I want to start dal mill plant. Tell me about plant, process and required capital. Bhuvenesh kabra, pali marwar rajasthan

What can mimic Anemia? [ 2 Answers ]

I've been concerned that I have anemia. After some internet research it appeared I had a lot of the symptoms. Heart palpitations, pale skin, constant fatigue and weakness, occasional lightheadedness and I don't know if I would classify it as shortness of breath but something doesn't feel right with...

Ceiling fan/light mimic response [ 1 Answers ]

I have 2 Hunter Breeze ceiling fans in adjacent bedrooms with remote controls. Either remote will operate both fans. Can you adjust the frequency on one of the units to prevent this mimic response? Prease advise.:rolleyes:


View more questions Search