Which of the following interactions represents an example of 'sexual deceit' evolved by a flowering plant to achieve cross-pollination by an insect vector?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. Petal mimics female bee appearance and odor; male pseudocopulates and transfers pollen

  1. Step 1: The Mediterranean orchid Ophrys exhibits an intricate coevolved pollination mechanism known as sexual deceit.
  2. Step 2: One petal of its flower bears an uncanny resemblance in shape, velvety texture, coloration, and markings to the female of a specific solitary bee species (Colletes).
  3. Step 3: In addition, the orchid synthesizes and emits chemical volatile pheromones identical to the sex pheromone of the female bee.
  4. Step 4: Male bees are attracted and attempt to copulate with the flower petal ('pseudocopulation'), during which pollinia are glued to the bee's body and transferred to the next orchid flower.
Answer
The Mediterranean orchid Ophrys mimics the female bee's appearance, color, and scent, inducing male bees to pseudocopulate with the flower
Why not the others: 'The pitcher plant Nepenthes...' describes carnivorous insect capture for nitrogen nutrition, not pollination; 'The fig tree produces hollow syconium...' describes obligate mutualism where the fig wasp lays eggs inside the gall flowers; 'The yucca plant lays its own eggs...' reverses the mutualism (the moth lays eggs in the ovary of the flower).

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