The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-21
CANNY INSECT WORKERS.
Experiments As to Their Habits In
the Visitation of Flowers.
From the London Times.

From the London Times
"a correspondent writes: 1.-THE theory of
the origin of flowers by the selection of in
scots is one which has attracted much at
tention both in scientific circles and from
the general public. Set forth by Darwin in
the Origin of Species,' 1t has been largely
developed in a series of interesting publi-
cations by Sir John Lubbock and Mr.. Grant
Allen. Some fresh and interesting light has
now been thrown on 1t by a series of ex-
periments recently carried out by Prof
Plateau of the University of Client Prof.
fidtedu has arrived at the conclusion that
insects are Indifferent to the colors Of the
hcwcrs they visit, and that they are guild
ell 70 them in a very subordinate way by
SIGHT The experiments on which the Bel
gian professor bases his far-reachins, con-
illusions are briefly these
Having covered the brightly colored
flowers of single dahlias In his garden with
bits OF green leaf, he found that they were
much at variance with the generally re-
ceiyed view that insects are attracted 10
flowers chiefly by their color that Prof
Plateau instituted a prolonged series of
experiments and observations to nut the
matter still further to the proof The re-
suit has been to confirm and strengthen
iments Cutting off the brightly colored
corolas of such flowers as lobelia. evening
primrose. foXgloves, ETC., he found the re-
naming green parts We're still visited
Again there are some brightly colored flow
ers which are seldom, or never visited nv
insects, owing to their lack of honey. Nota-
be among these is the scarlet geraniur, Of
our garden. But when a little honey was
placed on geranlum flowers bees came to
them at once, those blossoms which had
not received honey being passed over.
Other conspicuous flowers were tried
In similar way with like results. The
experiment Of removing the honey-bearing
parts of a flower and leaving the brightly
coiored part, which was supposed to be
attractive, was also tried with the sinele
dahia. It's inner fiorets were removed
leaving the conspicuous outer ones a piece
of yellow Leaf being placed in the Gem
ter. No Insects went to these honevless
flowers. But as soon as a drop of nectar
was placed on them they visited them AZ
freely as. before. Again. Prof Plateau
made artificial flowers with pieces of green
leaf each furnished with a little honey
These We're freely visited by insects Rut
artificial flowers made of colored mnterial
were neglected. even when supplied with
honey. In further support of his views
Prof. Plauteau is able to bring forward
the following facts as to the habits of in
sects in visiting flowers. They win pass
freely and with apparent indifference from
one color to another of varieties of th,
same species growing together in our gar
dens; they visit a great number of green
and greonish-colored flowers; there ara
many small and inconspicuous flowers
which are also freely visited. Such Is a
brief outline of Prof. Plauteau's observa
lions and experiments, from which he be-
lieves himself justified in drawing the con
clusion that sight plays very suborat-
nate part IN attracting insects to flowers.
Their bearing on the theory of the insect
origin of flowers is obvious"