Read that some orchids trick wasps into thinking they're a mate to get pollinated

I was looking at a plant science blog from the University of Florida and they said a specific type, the hammer orchid, actually mimics a female wasp so well the male tries to mate with it. The flower even has the right shape and smell. It's a wild way to get your pollen moved around. Has anyone else seen a plant use a trick that hardcore?

2 comments

2 Comments

leoward3h ago

That poor wasp got catfished by a flower.

julia_carter17m ago

Actually, the flower isn't catfishing. It's a real orchid that mimics a female wasp. The wasp tries to mate with it and gets pollen stuck on it. Then it flies off and does the same to another flower. It's a trick, but a real one. Nature is weird.