Thrips on a Cycad Cone (IMAGE)

University of Utah

Thrips on a Cycad Cone

Caption

Thrips try to enter the green cone of a male cycad plant before the cone opens. The insects feed on pollen in the male cones. University of Utah researchers found that certain cycad plants make themselves hot and smelly as a way to drive the insects of out male cycad cones and into female cycad cones, where the insects fertilize the plants.

Credit

Irene Terry, University of Utah.

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