ENTOMOPHILY Meaning and
Definition
-
Entomophily is a biological term that refers to the specific process of pollination in plants, whereby they rely on insects for the transfer of pollen from the male reproductive organ to the female reproductive organ. The word "entomophily" is derived from the Greek words "entomon" meaning "insect" and "philein" meaning "to love or to have an affinity for."
Plants that exhibit entomophily usually have certain adaptations to attract insects, such as brightly colored flowers, distinct fragrances, and nectar as a reward for visiting. Insects, particularly bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, and flies, are attracted to these plants due to the availability of nectar, which serves as a rich source of energy for the insects.
During visitation, pollen grains from the male anthers of a flower attach to the body of the insect as it feeds on the nectar. When the insect moves to another flower of the same species, some of the pollen grains are transferred to the sticky stigma, which is the female reproductive structure of the flower. This transfer allows for fertilization to occur and facilitates the production of seeds or fruit.
Entomophily is a vital process for the reproductive success and genetic diversity of many plant species, as it enables cross-pollination and prevents self-fertilization. It has coevolved with insects over millions of years, resulting in intricate relationships between plants and their pollinators. This mutualistic interaction benefits both parties, with plants ensuring their reproduction, and insects gaining access to food resources.
Common Misspellings for ENTOMOPHILY
- wntomophily
- sntomophily
- dntomophily
- rntomophily
- 4ntomophily
- 3ntomophily
- ebtomophily
- emtomophily
- ejtomophily
- ehtomophily
- enromophily
- enfomophily
- engomophily
- enyomophily
- en6omophily
- en5omophily
- entimophily
- entkmophily
- entlmophily
- entpmophily
Etymology of ENTOMOPHILY
The word "entomophily" is derived from two Greek words: "entomon" meaning "insect" and "philia" meaning "love" or "attraction". Therefore, "entomophily" literally translates to "insect love". In botanical terms, it refers to the process of pollination of plants by insects.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
