Question

Give four adaptations in flowers pollinated by insects.

Answer 1

Pollination by insects is termed as entomophily. It is most common among terrestrial plants. Entomophilous flowers are specially adapted to attract insects.

Complete answer:
Some of the adaptations of entomophilous flowers are the following;
1)Very conspicuous flowers with brightly coloured petals and perianths
2)Small flowers aggregate into inflorescence to become conspicuous.
3)Flowers are usually scented to attract insects.
4)Flowers have nectaries to produce and store nectar that provides food for insects.
5)Pollen grains are usually rough-surfaced and sticky so that they can easily get adhered to the insect body.
Insects can carry pollen grains from anthers of one flower and deposit them exactly on the stigma of another flower. Insects visit flowers to feed pollen and nectar, to deposit their eggs, in search for shelter or for unknown reasons. In order to attract insects, entomophilous flowers have large and brightly coloured petals. If flowers are grouped into conspicuous inflorescence with fragrance. Insect visitors show a preference for certain colours. Bees, in general, prefer blue colour, butterflies prefer red colour, and certain other flies prefer brown or purple colour.

Additional Information:
-Moths, butterflies, beetles are common insect pollinators. Pollination by moths is called phalenophily, by butterflies is called psychophily, by bees is called mellitophilies, by beetles is called cantharophily.
-Insect visit flowers for nectars. Nectaries are usually present inside the corolla tube or spur.
-Certain flowers secrete juicy or sticky substances which cause pollens to stick to the body of insects

Note:
-Sometimes the corolla of insect pollination flowers are very small and inconspicuous, and in such cases, certain other parts of the flower become large or attractive.
-Besides colour, insects are also guided to flowers by their smell.
-Some flowers are odourless during day time, but emit strong odour at night and such flowers are pollinated by night-flying moths.