Question

Flowers of orchid species Ophrys bombyliflora look and smell like female bumblebees. This attracts the male bumblebees flying nearby to the flowers. Thus, pollen sticks to the head and abdomen of the bumblebee, which causes pollination. This orchid species is only pollinated by these bees, which is why the species is known as bumblebee orchids. What mode of evolution is represented by this example?

Answer 1

The mode of evolution that is represented by this example is called coevolution. Coevolution is the process in which two independent species influence the evolution of each other. This process involves natural selection. There is nothing working as a forcing agent. Since this orchid named bumblebee orchid is totally dependent on a single species named bumblebee for its pollination and this evolution process, so this process is called coevolution. Various other organisms also follow this method of pollination to continue their cycle of evolution.