  
The Tactics of Coryanthes Orchids
 Is
it possible for a flower to be aware of the preferences of
an insect? Is it possible for it to make plans to make this
insect fall into its trap and make changes in itself accordingly?
Without a doubt, it is not possible for a flower or an insect
to carry out such tactics by means of its own reason and will.
However, when we look at the creatures in nature, we see that
they often apply just such kinds of tactics.
The Coryanthes orchid is one such
plant that makes insects fall into its trap by means of an
interesting tactic. The reproductive system of the orchid
is based on attracting insects and making them carry its pollen.
The flowers of this orchid species grow in clusters. Each
flower has two wing-like sepals and just behind these leaves
is a tiny "bucket." When the flowers open, a special
liquid secreted by two special glands begins to drip into
the bottom of this bucket. After a while the flower begins
to emit a fragrance that bees find irresistible.
As the orchid blooms, male bees respond to the scent and begin to fly around the flower. While they try to land on the vertical edges of the orchid, they also look for a place to hang onto with their legs, like the tubular section of the flower that connects the bucket to the stem. This part is slippery and sloping. Therefore, the bees creeping around the flower inevitably fall into the bucket in the bottom of the flower that is filled with the liquid.
There is only one way out for the bee that has fallen into the flower. A narrow tunnel leads to the front wall of the flower, that is, to daylight. Until the insect finds this way out, which is at the same level as the liquid into which the bee has fallen, it keeps swimming in the liquid. While trying to find the exit, it passes under the stigma, where there is pollen, and the flower's male organs. At that time, two pollen sacs stick to the back of the insect. Then the insect advances towards the exit and finally leaves the flower. When the bee goes to a new flower, this time the stigma of the flower picks up the pollen from the bee and, in this way, pollination begins.
Yet, this situation doesn't benefit the flower alone. The liquid present in the flower bucket the bees fall into is extremely important for bees as well, because the male bees will use the odor of this secretion smeared on their bodies to attract female bees during mating.
As we said in the beginning, it is not at all possible for a flower to develop tactics to deceive an insect and arrange its structure according to this tactic. Similarly, it is no less impossible for an insect to develop a tactic to acquire a needed substance from a flower by means of its own will. The amazing cooperation between these two creatures is evidence for the fact that they were created by a unique Creator.
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