29 



etc.) many species of beetles lick the honey. In flowers like 

 Plantain (Plmtago) where the honey is concealed, beetles 

 feed upon pollen. (See figure 16). Tropical and sub-trop- 

 ical Ijeetles have in some cases excellent adaptations to obtain 

 II 



FIG. 16 



Fig. 16. Beetles— I to the left, Cerncoma achaefferi^ natural size. II head ten 



times enlarged. (I and Ila) Longioorn beetles. IPaehyia DClomaculata 3 times 



enlarged. 11 ab Leptura livida, (A.fter Mueller and Behrens' from Behrens' 



text book of botany). 



nectar. Fritz Mueller observed a species of Nemognatha 



sucking the flowers of Convolvulus in Brazil. The maxilla) 



when opposed form a tube like the proboscis of a butterfly, 



which is, however, not capable of being rolled up. 



Why do insects go to flowers and 

 Reasons for Attractlou. „,, , .,, ,, 



01 what advantage is it to the 



plant? Insects go to the flower because it offers food, nec- 

 tar, pollen, or other substance. The insect must care and 

 provide for its young. Plants would not long provide this 

 food without some advantage accruing to them, hence we 

 have reciprocal adaptations. Note as an illustration the 

 adaptation in sage, clover, etc., or in certain nocturnal Lcp- 

 idoptera that lay their eggs in the flowers of some pinks, as 

 Soapwort. The larvae after hatching, feed on the young 

 ovules and seeds. When mature they bite a hole through 

 the aide wall of the ovary and escape. These insects do not 



