Manduca sexta matching flower (VIDEO)
Caption
Wind tunnel experiment with Manduca sexta: The moth loses a lot of energy when it hovers in front of a flower; however, when a matching flower (here: Nicotiana alata) can be found quickly and nectar is easily accessible, this loss can be more than balanced by the net-energy gain that results after visiting such a flower. The selection of the right flowers is supported by the moth's innate preference for the scent of these flowers.
Credit
Alexander Haverkamp / Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology
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