![]() The flies are attracted by both the appropriate colouration of the plant and the odour which act in concert, the odour profiles being species specific and independent of generic affiliation (Jὔrgens et al. In especially Stapelia species the flies are so deceived that they lay their eggs on the flower, only to have them predated by ants. Flies are believed to be attracted to this movement as they are gregarious when depositing eggs. 7c) for instance, has its flowers fringed by vibratile white cilia which move in the slightest breeze and are thought to resemble that of fly maggots. Flies which breed in dung invariably lay their eggs in clumps in crevices in the dung from which white larvae hatch. ![]() Some of these flowers may even have yellow or white markings that further improves the resemblance by suggesting fat. 7a) may further imitate the appearance of a wounded or dead animal. The presence of fur-like projections on some flowers such as Stapelia hirsuta (Fig. Unlike bees which sense light better in the ultraviolet region, these flowers are a deep red that may be mistaken for meat by flies. It is interesting to note that these succulent plants that extend from this semi-arid region into very arid regions, evolved to attract the ubiquitous flies that may be more prevalent than bees in such barren areas. The most important pollinators of stapeliads belong mainly in the Calliphoridae (blowflies), Sarcophagidae (flesh flies) or Muscidae (houseflies). Belonging to the Stapelieae, their flowers release foetid odours which mimic their oviposition substrates and thus attract flies for pollination. Honeybees however, were not involved in the pollination of five plant species of the carrion flower group which were in flower. Honeybees attacking an individual from another colony Honeybees (Apis mellifera capensis) sucking water from the damp soil.įig.
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