Co-Evolution of Flowers & Insects
During the Cenozoic period that began 65 million years ago the first bees, butterflies, moths and wasps started appearing, conveniently at the same time the flowering plants were diversifying. Flowers were also specializing to attract a certain type of insect or animal to increase the chances of pollination. They were co-evolving.
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Co-evolution
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Co-evolution is when two different species evolve at the same time and are totally dependent on one another. Plants evolved to produce flowers and pollen as a means of reproduction and the newly evolved insects found a ready food source.
Mutual Benefits
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Today, over 65 percent of flowering plants are pollinated with the help of insects. Roughly 20 percent of all insect species depend on flowers for food for at least part of their lives.
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Bee Flowers
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Bees visit flowers for nectar and pollen. Some of the pollen grains get placed in tiny sacks on their legs and get taken back to the hive. Grains that stick to the insect's body get brushed on the next flower that is visited, pollinating that flower. Bees depend heavily on scent, so certain flowers have developed heady scents to attract them.
Hummingbird Flowers
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Flowers that attract hummingbirds are brightly colored and have tube shapes that accommodate the slender curved bills. These tubes brush pollen on the head and shoulders of the bird as it feeds. Hummingbirds have a poor sense of smell, so fragrance is not an issue.
Sexual Attraction
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Some orchids lure pollinators with the promise of sex. They attract male wasps by offering flowers that look and smell like the female of the species. A male lands on the orchid and tries to mate but has no luck. He goes on to the next flower and tries again, spreading pollen in the process.
Fun Fact, Protectors
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One unusual relationship is between the acacia tree and acacia ants. The ants live in the tree's large hollow thorns. The tree produces a substance that the ants use for food on the tips of the leaves. In turn, the ants defend the tree by attacking any animal that gets near the tree, preventing the tree from being eaten.
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References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Kjunstorm
