ENT 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Aristolochia, Fake Food, Seed Dispersal
Document Summary
Insect and plant relationships date back to the carboniferous. Most now pollinated by hymenoptera, lepidoptera, and diptera. Important source of sugars, proteins, water, some fats. Detox is always needed to deal with plants defenses. Most flowering plants need insects for reproductive services. Some plants feed on the insect as well. Carries pollen to new flowers, plant is pollinated and bred with a plant not related to itself. Spend energy on pollen and nectar eaten by bee. Wind pollinated by plants waste huge amounts of pollen to fertilize. Both expend energy but gain through the relationship. Insect comes to orchid because it is imitating the food source. Orchid imitates the female of a species of bee or wasp. Focus on territorial species, and look like a male of the species to attack other males that want the territory. One species produce odor of stinkbug to attract flies to be pollinated by.
