Plant “mimics smell of injured ants to attract pollinators”

Vincetoxicum nakaianum flowering in the natural habitat. (Mochizuki 2025 via SWNS)

By Stephen Beech

A plant is the first ever to be seen mimicking ants to attract pollinators.

Plant “mimics smell of injured ants to attract pollinators”

The grass fly visiting the flowers (A) and the kleptoparasiting spider hunting ant (B). (Mochizuki 2025 via SWNS)

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Vincetoxicum magnificum

Originally published on talker.news, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.

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