DOI: 10.5061/dryad.54h75r8
title: Data from: An experimental evaluation of traits that influence the sexual behaviour of pollinators in sexually deceptive orchids

description: Pollination by sexual deception of male insects is perhaps one of the most
 remarkable cases of mimicry in the plant kingdom. However, understanding
 the influence of floral traits on pollinator behaviour in sexually
 deceptive orchids is challenging, due to the risk of confounding changes
 in floral odour when manipulating morphology. Here, we investigated the
 floral traits influencing the sexual response of male Zaspilothynnus
 nigripes (Tiphiidae) wasps, a pollinator of two distantly related sexually
 deceptive orchids with contrasting floral architecture, Caladenia
 pectinata and Drakaea livida. In D. livida the chemical sexual attractant
 is emitted from the labellum, while in C. pectinata it is produced from
 the distal sepal tips, allowing manipulative experiments. When controlling
 for visual cues there was no difference in long distance attraction,
 though the floral odour of D. livida induced copulation more frequently
 than that of C. pectinata. The role of colour in pollinator sexual
 attraction was equivocal, indicating that colour may not be a strong
 constraint on the initial evolution of sexual deception. The frequency of
 wasp visitors landing on C. pectinata decreased when the amount of floral
 odour was reduced, but attempted copulation rates were enhanced when the
 source of floral odour was associated with the labellum. These latter
 variables may represent axes of selection that operate across many
 sexually deceptive species. Nonetheless, the observed variation in floral
 traits suggests flexibility in how sexual deception can be achieved.
description: Experiment 1: Long
 distance attractiveness of Drakaea livida vs Caledonia
 pectinataA comparison of (i) how
 quickly pollinators respond (ii) how many pollinators respond to the
 floral odour of Drakaea livida and Caladenia pectinata when presented with
 the same visual stimulus.Z nigripes deception Experiment
 1 Submit.xlsxExperiment 2: Does the
 odour of Drakaea livida elicit greater sexual attraction than Caledonia
 pectinata?When presented with the
 same visual stimulus, do pollinators land or attempt copulation more
 frequently in response to the floral odour of Drakaea livida or Caledonia
 pectinata?Z
 nigripes deception Experiment 2
 Submit.xlsxExperiment 3: Does a
 decrease in floral odour reduce sexual attraction of the
 pollinator?A comparison of the
 sexual attraction of pollinators (measured as landing and attempted
 copulation) with normal or reduced amounts of odour-producing floral
 tissueZ
 nigripes deception Experiment 3
 Submit.xlsxExperiment 4: Does the
 sexual attraction of the pollinator increase when the attractant is
 associated with the labellum?A comparison of
 pollinator sexual attraction (measured as landing and attempted
 copulation) to intact flowers vs those where odour production is
 associated with the labellum.Z nigripes deception Experiment
 4 Submit.xlsxExperiment 5: Does a
 dull-coloured labellum enhance the sexual attraction of the
 pollinator?A comparison of
 pollinator sexual behaviour (measured as landing and attempted copulation)
 with flowers that have either a white or a red labellumZ nigripes deception Experiment
 5 Submit.xlsxSupplement: does the
 odour of Caledonia longicauda reduce attraction of pollinators to
 Caledonia pectinataA comparison of
 pollinator responses to Caladenia pectianta with and without the addition
 of the odour of Caledonia longicaudaZ nigripes deception Experiment
 supplement 2.xlsx