A jackal fly feeding on “fake blood” secreted by a Ceropegia gerrardii flower
Annemarie Heiduk
A uncommon South African plant produces a fluid and scent that mimic honeybee blood to entice scavenging jackal flies to pollinate its flowers.
Jackal flies from the genus Desmometopa ordinarily feed on the blood of bugs, particularly honeybees, which have been killed by spiders and praying mantises. They are alerted to the presence of a free meal by the scent of spilt bee blood, or haemolymph.
Annemarie Heiduk on the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa …
Source: www.newscientist.com