It is a blatant demonstration of nature in the most exhausting: researchers discovered a plant that attracts pollination flies by simulating the smell of ants.
Dogbane is the first plant known to enhance its chances of reproduction by copying the smell that ants launch as an alarm call to their colleagues when they are attacked by spiders and other predators.
“This is the first proof of the imitation of ants in plants,” said Ko Machizuke, a plant scientist at Tokyo University. “Without this specific smell, the factory will not be able to achieve reproop success.” Dogbane type, Vincetoxicum NakaianumHe is a citizen of Japan and was named only last year.
The first hint of her deceptive tactics came when a mockoki fibrosis monitored the fruit flies around the plant flowers in the nursery in the Kochikaoubotian gardens in Tokyo.
Flies move from the plant to the plant looking for the affected ants and the diodes that left behind after the spiders attacked them. But in this process, the flies guarantee a great benefit by helping to pollinate.
Facial to attract flies, Muchisuki analyzed the chemicals released by the plant and found a cocktail of volatile compounds including NONANE, Undecane and other materials known as 8AC, 10AC and 6 MMS.
Then he analyzed the ants issued by the ants in a jar when they were attacked by the jumping spider. This is highly intertwined with the smells issued by DogBane, according to the report in Current biology.
“Upon attack, ants are released to alert their colleagues in Nestmand.” “Specialized spiders on the tip on ants digest their internal tissues and usually leave the outer structure.”
In other experiments, Mocizuki is used in the shape of Y to find out the most calling scents to fruit flies. Insects were not attracted to the crushed ants, but they went to the ants that were attacked by spiders. Flies feed on body fluids from infected insects.
While it is known that some insects mimic stereotypes so that they can reach the nests of ants and feed on their larvae, DogBane is the first plant known to pull a similar trick. Machizuki said it was very effective.
“The smelled of the injured ants emitted by Vincetoxicum Nakaianum Flowers have an amazing effect on attracting pollinators.