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This orchid looks like there is a bee on it (Ophrys apifera) (infosec.pub)

submitted 4 months ago by kunegis@feddit.org to c/orchidaceae@mander.xyz

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https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fichier:Ophrys_apifera2.jpg

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[–] lvxferre@mander.xyz 5 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

The fun part is why: the flower mimics a female bee of a certain species in both looks and scent, so male bees "copulate" with it. The horny bee won't get any child from that, but the orchid does because that pollinates the flower.

Most species in that genus are like this, the main difference being which insect species they fool.

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[–] acockworkorange@mander.xyz 2 points 4 months ago

Relevant XKCD.

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