Question

Which one of the following is an appropriate example of 'sexual deceit' ?

• A. Sea anemone and clown fish
• B. Female wasp and fig
• C. {Ophrys} and bumblebee
• D. Cuckoo and crow

Hint:

Logic Tip: "Deceit" means trickery. "Sexual" means it involves mating. The orchid tricks the male bee into thinking it's mating with a female bee. None of the other options involve tricking an organism with a fake mating partner!

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept:
In ecology, species interactions take many fascinating forms. Sexual deceit is a highly specialized form of mimicry used primarily by certain plants to secure pollination without offering any reward (like nectar) to the pollinator. The plant mimics the visual appearance and pheromones of a female insect to attract males of that species. 
Step 1: 
The relationship between a sea anemone and a clown fish is a classic example of commensalism (or mutualism, depending on the specific ecological definition applied). The fish gets protection from predators by hiding in the anemone's stinging tentacles, while the anemone is relatively unaffected. This is not sexual deceit. 
Step 2: 
The fig tree and the female fig wasp share a tight mutualistic relationship. The wasp pollinates the fig inflorescence, and in return, the fig provides a safe site (the fruit) for the wasp to lay its eggs and food for the developing larvae. Both benefit; there is no deceit. 
Step 3: 
The cuckoo laying its eggs in the nest of a crow is an example of brood parasitism. The cuckoo deceives the host bird into raising its young, but this is related to parental care, not sexual reproduction or mating behavior. 
Step 4: Evaluate Option 3 (Ophrys and bumblebee)}} 
The Mediterranean orchid Ophrys employs sexual deceit. One petal of its flower bears an uncanny resemblance to the female of a specific bee species in size, color, and markings. The male bee is attracted to what it perceives as a female and ""pseudocopulates"" with the flower. During this process, pollen is dusted onto the bee, which it then transfers to the next orchid it attempts to mate with. 
Step 5: 
Therefore, the interaction between the Ophrys orchid and the bee is the textbook example of sexual deceit.