ONLINE IMAGE COLLECTION

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Image Title: A capitulum of the South African "beetle daisy" (Gorteria diffusa: Asteraceae)
Image Credit: Steve Johnson, University of Natal
AJB Editor: Karl Niklas, Cornell University
Intended End User: Teacher, Student
License Details: BSA - Terms for Image Use
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About the Image

A capitulum of the South African "beetle daisy" (Gorteria diffusa: Asteraceae). The dark raised spots on the ray florets are strikingly similar to the bee-fly (Megapalpus nitidus: Bombyliidae) that pollinates this plant. Experiments show that bee-flies are more strongly attracted to capitula with spots than capitula in which spots have been removed.

Link to the AJB Abstract for the article:

Fly pollination of Gorteria diffusa (Asteraceae), and a possible mimetic function for dark spots on the capitulum

National Science Foundation  Development Supported by the National Science Foundation