Multimodal floral cues resembling both generalized food sources and oviposition sites in Isotrema manshuriense (Aristolochiaceae) pollinated by flies.

ABSTRACT: The genus Aristolochia is renowned for its kettle-like trap flowers that temporarily retain visiting insects, primarily using trapping trichomes. Most Aristolochia species attract fly pollinators through floral mimicry, by imitating their oviposition sites and/or food sources. In this study, we investigated the potential mimicry system of Isotrema manshuriense, a species formerly classified as Aristolochia manshuriensis that lacks trapping trichomes. We identified its pollinators and analysed its multimodal floral cues. Anthesis was divided into three sexual phases: female phase, interphase, and male phase. Insects entrapped in flowers were collected and identified. Limb secretion from female-phase flowers was analysed using GC-MS for metabolite profiling. Visual and olfactory cues of fema

SUBMITTER: Lim H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12477297 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature