Orchid pollination by sexual swindle

Florian P. Schiestl (), Manfred Ayasse, Hannes F. Paulus, Christer Löfstedt, Bill S. Hansson, Fernando Ibarra and Wittko Francke
Additional contact information
Florian P. Schiestl: Institute of Zoology
Manfred Ayasse: Institute of Zoology
Hannes F. Paulus: Institute of Zoology
Christer Löfstedt: Lund University
Bill S. Hansson: Lund University
Fernando Ibarra: University of Hamburg
Wittko Francke: University of Hamburg

Nature, 1999, vol. 399, issue 6735, 421-421

Abstract: Abstract The flowers of Ophrys orchids mimic receptive females of usually only one pollinator species. Males of this species are attracted primarily by the odour of a flower and transfer the pollinia during so-called ‘pseudocopulations’ with the flowers1,2,3. We have found that flowers of O. sphegodes produce the same compounds and in similar relative proportions as are found in the sex pheromone of its pollinator species, the solitary bee Andrena nigroaenea. Common straight-chain saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons are the key components in this chemical mimicry, which seems to be an economical means of pollinator attraction.

Date: 1999
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DOI: 10.1038/20829

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