Channel: Deep Look

Category: Science & Technology

Tags: pbseducationbutterfliesgardeningpollenlepidopterapoisonousdeceptive pollinationfungus gnatpipevinecaterpillar4k videobutterflyplantslarvainsectbattus philenorunusual flowersdocumentarywildlifetoxicmacroflowerspollinationnaturecaterpillar eating leafdeep lookgnatinsectsflowercalifornia pipevinebugdutchman's pipevinescalifornia dutchman’s pipebutterfly eggsgardenmycetophilidaepipevine swallowtailwildaristolochia californica

Description: The devilish caterpillars of the pipevine swallowtail butterfly *devour* the California pipevine, never mind that the plant is trying to poison them. Their butterfly moms don’t pollinate the pipevine in return, though. So, the vine traps unlucky gnats in its labyrinthine flowers to do the job. Please join our community on Patreon! patreon.com/deeplook SUBSCRIBE to Deep Look! goo.gl/8NwXqt DEEP LOOK is an ultra-HD (4K) short video series created by KQED San Francisco and presented by PBS Digital Studios. See the unseen at the very edge of our visible world. Explore big scientific mysteries by going incredibly small. --- This is the story of a love triangle between a plant, a striking butterfly and an intrepid gnat. At the center of this triangle is the California pipevine (Aristolochia californica). The plant produces poisonous compounds called aristolochic acids and it’s also known as the California Dutchman’s pipe because its flowers are shaped like a tobacco pipe. The California pipevine swallowtail butterfly (Battus philenor hirsuta) loves the vine. It flutters around the plant with its bright blue and orange wings and lays clusters of eggs on leaves and stems. When they hatch, the caterpillars feed exclusively on the pipevine. But the butterflies don’t pollinate the plant. Instead, the pipevine lures fungus gnats into its flowers with a mushroomy aroma that reminds the flies of the fungi they feed on in the soil as larvae. The flies get stuck inside the curved flowers long enough for their hairs to get coated in pollen. This strategy in which a plant attracts pollinators under false pretenses is called deceptive pollination. --- Is the California pipevine a native plant? Yes, it’s the only pipevine native to the state. It grows naturally along rivers. --- Are fungus gnats considered pests? Yes, they are. The adult flies lay their eggs in the earth, where their larvae feed on fungi and plant matter. If they get into potted soil, they can chew on the roots of houseplants and damage them. ---+ Find additional resources and a transcript on KQED Science: kqed.org/science/1974786/the-pipevine-caterpillar-thrives-in-a-toxic-love-triangle ---+ More great Deep Look episodes: Why Is the Very Hungry Caterpillar So Dang Hungry? youtu.be/el_lPd2oFV4 This Giant Plant Looks Like Raw Meat and Smells Like Dead Rat youtu.be/ycUNj_Hv4_Y ---+ Shoutout! Good try everyone! No-one got our GIF challenge correct for this episode. The caterpillars feeding side by side helps them grow bigger faster. The faster they grow, the better protected they are because they accumulate toxins in their bodies as they feed on the California pipevine. ---+ Thank you to our Top Patreon Supporters ($10+ per month)! Chris B Emrick Burt Humburg Alex Shebastian Reyes Josh Kuroda Wild Turkey Karen Reynolds dane rosseter David Deshpande Daisuke Goto Allison & Maka Masuda Companion Cube Nathan Jewsbury Tianxing Wang Mark Jobes Elizabeth Ann Ditz Leonhardt Wille Kelly Hong Joshua Murallon Robertson Laurel Przybylski Mary Truland Gerardo Alfaro Sonia Tanlimco Sayantan Dasgupta El Samuels Shelley Pearson Cranshaw Supernovabetty Carrie Mukaida monoirre Aurora Silvan Levi Cai Roberta K Wright Rick Wong Kristy Freeman Caitlin McDonough Nicolette Ray Misia Clive Titania Juang Carlos Carrasco Nicky O. Delphine Tseng Syniurge Noreen Herrington Cristen Rasmussen Jana Brenning Blanca Vides Kallie Moore Anastasia Grinkevic Scott Faunce SueEllen McCann Teresa Lavell Louis O'Neill Adam Kurtz Mehdi Cindy McGill Laura Sanborn KW TierZoo Kevin Judge ---+ Follow KQED Science and Deep Look: Instagram: instagram.com/kqedscience Twitter: twitter.com/kqedscience ---+ About KQED KQED, an NPR and PBS affiliate in San Francisco, California, serves Northern California and beyond with a public-supported alternative to commercial TV, radio and web media. Funding for Deep Look is provided in part by PBS Digital Studios. Deep Look is a project of KQED Science, the largest science and environment reporting unit in California. KQED Science is supported by The National Science Foundation, the Dirk and Charlene Kabcenell Foundation, the Vadasz Family Foundation, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Campaign 21 and the members of KQED. #californiapipevine #gnats #deeplook