by VS Pragadheesh – One evening, Suhrid and I were walking in the field searching hoverflies. We didn’t find any hoverflies that day, but I saw an interesting behaviour: pseudocopulation in Hymenoptera. I recalled the article by Figueiredo et al., where I first learned about the term ‘pseudocopulation’, “Factors affecting secondary metabolite production in plants: volatile components and essential oils” (Flavour and Fragrance Journal, 2008, 23: 213-226). This is the article that made me curious about the ecological aspects of plant volatiles and drove me to work on Chemical Ecology.
Another exciting thing is, pseudocopulation is mostly studied in Orchids. This is first time we observed this behaviour in Crotolaria. More to come!
NICE 