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Fig. 5 | BMC Ecology

Fig. 5

From: BMC Ecology Image Competition 2016: the winning images

Fig. 5

Winner, Conservation Ecology and Biodiversity Research: “The intricate relationship between the long-tongued bumblebee Bombus consobrinus and the perennial herb Aconitum lycoctonum is a wonderful example of co-evolution. B. consobrinus is specially adapted to feed on A. lycoctonum’s long-spurred flowers and only exist within its range. A. lycoctonum, likewise, depends on the visits of B. consobrinus for pollination. There are cheaters in this system, however. A. lycoctonum is frequently subjected to nectar robbery by short-tongued bumblebees. They cannot reach the nectar the usual way, so instead they bite a hole on top of the flowers with their jaws. These holes produced by nectar robbing bumblebees can be seen on the flowers in the bottom part of the photo.” Attribution, Elin Videvall

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