Question

14. Referencing to the Ophrys orchid example, why do you think the flower releases twice the amount of pseudo-pheromones than the female bee? Why would the female bee not release more pheromones to compete with the flowers? 15. If pollinator populations were to drastically decline, how would farmers that depend on them cope? Are there alternatives to wild pollinators?

Answer 1

14. The flower releases more pseudo-hormone than the female only to ensure that the pollinator definitely reaches the flower.The Ophrys flower not only uses pseudo-phehormones , it also physically resembles female flower to attract the male insect so that pollen can be transferred to another flower of the same species. The appearance of the flower similar to the female insect attract the male insect only in close quarters. The major role is played by the pseudo-pheromones to attract the insect from far. Flower needs to attract insects from far distance than the female insect. That is why they produce more pseudo-pheromone than the female flower.

Female bee doesn't produce more hormone because they is no need for the female to produce more hormone.

15. The decline in wild pollinators is compensated by keeping Honey Bee colonies near the fields by the farmers. The loss of wild pollinators is effectively managed and pollination is assured.