Page 39 - 2022 MBC 다큐 가이드북

ENVIRONMENT
& WILDLIFE

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humans do! Many types of insects in the Panorpidae family Flowers’ scent and bright colors are means to appeal to other
use different gifts to entice females for mating. The presents creatures. Meanwhile, European oil beetle larvae camouflage
could be their secretion or something else wrapped in their themselves as flowers to seduce bees. The Seduction and
secretion. Petals and food wrapped up in a flower cup are also Parasitic Strategies of European Oil Beetles Wonder how
good gifts. This male scorpionfly will secrete pheromones clever European oil beetles (Meloidae family) are for their
to attract a female after finding food that is usually liquids in own survival? Females lay their eggs in a hole and leave right
fruits or dead animals. When the female comes, the male away. The eggs hatch in six weeks and then the larvae climb
shares the food with it and mating takes place immediately. up the nearby trees and mimic flowers for survival! Others
Without food, nothing happens. climb onto the flowers and attach to the coming insects. The
The Art of Seduction - Survival documentary shows thousands of European oil beetle larvae
Seduction itself is useful not only for mating but also for disguised as flower petals to seduce bumblebees. Attaching
survival. Don’t think that seduction occurs only in the animals’ to bumblebees, beetles enter the bees’ nest and feed on
world! Plants also attract insects to scatter their seeds. honey. Even a single European oil beetle larva can destroy the
entire bumblebee nest.