Question

Attractants and rewards are required for _________.

• A. hydrophily
• B. anemophily
• C. entomophily
• D. all of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is C entomophily

Attractants and rewards are required for entomophily (pollination by insects) because insects are attracted to flowers by colour and/or fragrance. Therefore flowers in which pollination occurs by insects have large colourful and fragrant flowers.

Nectar and pollen grains are the common floral rewards.
To sustain the visit of the insects, the flowers have to provide rewards to them. When the insect comes to collect the reward, it comes in contact with the anther of the flower. This results in pollen grains (sticky) sticking onto the body of the insects. When this insect carrying pollen comes in contact with the stigma, it brings about pollination.

Water pollinated and wind pollinated flowers do not require any attractants and neither produce nectar (floral reward) as the pollinating agents in them are water and wind respectively. Also both wind and water pollinated flowers are not very colourful.