Sexy orchids do more than embarrass wasps

[bananas]

http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKT17560320080507

Sexy orchids do more than embarrass wasps: study

Posted 7:05 pm EDT

WASHINGTON, May 7, 2008 (Reuters) — Orchids that mimic female wasps may not only waste the time of the male wasps they lure into spreading their pollen -- they also seduce them into wasting valuable sperm, Australian researchers reported on Wednesday.

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Some of the most exotic orchids are known to have evolved their convoluted shapes to attract insects, who unwittingly collect and transfer pollen as they try to mate with the flowers.

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"Insects pollinating Australian tongue orchids (Cryptostylis species) frequently ejaculate and waste copious sperm," they wrote in a report in The American Naturalist.

It is not harmless to the wasps, who may suffer more than an inconvenience. "Male pollinators can prefer orchids to real females, prematurely end a copulation with a real female to visit an orchid, or be unable to find real female mates among false orchid signals," the researchers wrote.

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[But....]

1. Been there....

done that:crazy:

[bitchkitty]

3. Now THAT's funny! n/t

[angstlessk]

2. wasting sperm..how un Christian..and WASP at that...whoda ever thunk it??

[Vidar]

7. "Every sperm is sacred, Every sperm is good." --The Meaning of Life

[NOLALady]

4. Men.

[RainDog]

5. orchidporn.org

hot orchids! see hot asian orchids! college girl orchids gone wild! increase your stinger size!

[But....]

6. ...

:rofl: :woohoo: :rofl: