I was reading about this plant named Ophrys( an orchid that deceives insects sexually by making structures similar to bees and wasps) I wonder how they make such complex structures and how their ancestors started making such weird structure. Some more question arises in my mind like How do these pl…

It’s evolution, plants don’t feel colour or that they attract insects, it’s just their shape and scent makes them more attractive => they reproduce better than other specimens, that makes certain aspects of their flower getting in the gene flow of population, becoming a norm. They probably started w…

The above is entirely correct. Plants don’t know anything, and evolution doesn’t follow a plan. The orchid didn’t go “okay, we’re going to start evolving this new shape” and set out along a path to do it. Evolution is one step at a time, random mutations cropping up that happen to pose a slight adva…

Also the main attractant is usually the scent, which resembles the female pheromone and evolved in a similar manner, starting with something that happened to be somewhat alike.

Evolution doesn’t work that way. Many insects — like bees and wasps and butterflies — do the same kind of thing as those plants; they mimic other insects. This doesn’t happen because those insects can see the species they want to mimic. No matter how well they can see another species, nor how hard t…

The only thing I’d like to add here is that it isn’t all mutations. Evolution can also occur using the natural variation in a population. Some people are taller that others, some have thicker fingers, etc. No mutation needed for some trait to get carried to relative extremes if selection pressure…

It is still based on mutations though, just in the past.

Heh, yes. Doesn’t require new mutations. I love biology. It’s simple and complex all at the same time.

Thanks for all your reply It really changed my perspective for evolution

[image] DanielAustin: This doesn’t happen because those insects can see the species they want to mimic. No matter how well they can see another species, nor how hard they concentrated on wanting to look like that, they could never start to mimic the other creature even over millions of generatio…

It’s also interesting in this case to mention crab spiders that change colours depending on flower colour, they also don’t think about which colour would fit them better!.)

Sexually deceiving plants

Nature Talk

karthikeyaeco July 15, 2021, 7:10am 13

and also dont forget about the Moss mimic stick insect and Indian oakleaf butterfly

Topic		Replies	Views
Show us your mimics! Nature Talk	28	555	June 13, 2025
Does Milkweed Cause the Orange and Black Coloration on Many Insects? Nature Talk question	4	532	August 25, 2024
Why does the genus Paraplectana camouflage as a ladybird? Nature Talk	10	576	August 4, 2021
'Accidental' mimicry Nature Talk	5	160	May 31, 2025
The Most Interesting Things about Arthropods! Nature Talk education , fun	37	2660	March 31, 2021

Sexually deceiving plants

Related topics