260406-Suetsugu-Fragrance-Illustration (IMAGE)
Caption
The gall midge Dasineura heterosmilacicola is attracted first to male flowers of the climbing plant Smilax insularis (left) by the chemical dihydroedulan I. Laying its eggs into the flowers, the insects pick up pollen, which they carry to the female flowers (right) that open and emit the same scent a few hours later in the day. However, the insects rarely lay eggs there and the few larvae that hatch do not eat the developing seeds, dying of food scarcity or desiccation. The larvae in the male flowers, however, feed on the surplus pollen and emerge from the dropped flowers.
Credit
ANZAI Shun, SUETSUGU Kenji
Usage Restrictions
Credit must be given to the creator.
License
CC BY