Organisms and Populations Question 73
73. An interesting modification of flower shape for insect pollination occurs in some orchids in which a male insect mistakes the pattern on the orchid flower for the female of his species and tries to copulate with it, thereby pollinating the flower. This phenomenon is called
[1998]
(a) mimicry
(b) pseudopollination
(c) pseudocopulation
(d) pseudoparthenocarpy
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Answer : a
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(a) Mimicry is resemblance of an organism to its natural surrounding, a non-living object or another organism for concealing itself from its enemies. Flowers of Ophrys muscifera resemble the female wasps of Colpa aurea so that the male wasp tries to copulate with the flowers and pollinate them.
