Question

The Hummingbird moth is mostly active at night. They are attracted to a strong, sweet odor. Like hummingbirds, they can remain suspended in the air in front of the flower. They can unfold their tongues to reach into several types of flowers.
Given this information, in three to five sentences, answer the following questions:

What is one feature of a flower that is trying to attract the Hummingbird moth as a pollinator?
Would the flower have more reproductive success if it adapted to more than just the needs of the Hummingbird moth? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

One feature of a flower that is trying to attract the Hummingbird moth as a pollinator is a strong, sweet odor. This odor is specifically appealing to the Hummingbird moth and helps in attracting them.

Yes, the flower would have more reproductive success if it adapted to more than just the needs of the Hummingbird moth. By attracting a wider variety of pollinators, the flower increases its chances of cross-pollination and genetic diversity. This can lead to the production of more viable and adaptive offspring. Additionally, if a particular pollinator species declines or becomes less abundant, the flower that can attract other pollinators will have a better chance of continuing its reproductive success.