https://phys.org/news/2024-03-tiny-orchid-pollinated-flies.html Phys.org Topics * Week's top * Latest news * Unread news * Subscribe [ ] Science X Account [ ] [ ] [*] Remember me Sign In Click here to sign in with or Forget Password? Not a member? Sign up Learn more * Nanotechnology * Physics * Earth * Astronomy & Space * Chemistry * Biology * Other Sciences * Medical Xpress Medicine * Tech Xplore Technology [INS::INS] * * share this! * 145 * Twit * Share * Email 1. Home 2. Biology 3. Plants & Animals 1. Home 2. Biology 3. Ecology * * * --------------------------------------------------------------------- March 29, 2024 Editors' notes This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: fact-checked peer-reviewed publication trusted source proofread Tiny orchid flowers pollinated by tiny flies by University of Tokyo Tiny orchid flowers pollinated by tiny flies A close-up of the whorls, and an image of full stalks of Oberonia japonica, an orchid species native to Japan. Credit: Sunakawa et al 2024 Researchers Yuta Sunakawa, Ko Mochizuki, and Atsushi Kawakita of the University of Tokyo have discovered the first orchid species pollinated by gall midges, a tiny fly species. This is the first documented case of an orchid species found to be pollinated by gall midges, and it makes the orchids the eleventh such plant family. The findings were published in the journal Ecology. The family of orchids is rich both in numbers and variety. Their range of shapes and sizes is due to having evolved to attract different animal pollinators. However, scientists have only mapped the pollination biology of only about 10% of all orchid species. The trio of researchers set out to investigate the possible pollinator of Oberonia japonica, a species native to Japan and a member of the Oberonia genus, one of the genera with the smallest known flowers in the orchid family. This plant's orange flowers are about the size of the tip of a mechanical pencil and are arranged in whorls of five to six. Full flower stalks can contain upwards of a hundred whorls. The team went to Aichi Prefecture to observe and collect "visitors" stuck to the flowers to see what species they were and if they were in fact, pollinating the plants. "We conducted a field observation of flower visitors on May 11-12 and 14, 2022, in their natural habitat in Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture," says Sunakawa. "Interestingly, these flower visitors were observed exclusively during the night, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. As both the flowers and midges were exceptionally small, initially we could only discern the presence of 'small insects.' It was only after capturing an image with a macro lens that we discovered they were gall midges. Photographing a gall midge carrying the orchid's pollinaria, a lump of pollen and accessory structures, was a thrilling experience." Tiny orchid flowers pollinated by tiny flies Gall midges on a stalk of Oberonia japonica, an orchid species native to Japan. Credit: Sunakawa et al 2024 However, as one mystery was solved, others popped up in its stead. The gall midges found on the flowers were mostly females with identical external morphologies. Gall midges live in most habitats around the globe and similar orchid species can be found in the neotropical regions of Polynesia, Asia, and Africa. These two factors suggest that there might be other orchid species pollinated by gall midges waiting to be discovered. So, Sunakawa explains the next steps for research. "The reason why only female gall midges are attracted to these flowers and why they act as if they were transferring pollinaria is still unknown. We are eager to solve this mystery through additional field observations, observations in other locations, and observations of other closely related species." More information: Pollination of Oberonia japonica (Orchidaceae) by gall midges (Cecidomyiidae), Ecology (2024). DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4293 Journal information: Ecology Provided by University of Tokyo Citation: Tiny orchid flowers pollinated by tiny flies (2024, March 29) retrieved 31 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/ 2024-03-tiny-orchid-pollinated-flies.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. 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