New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-03
Color PREFERENCES or INSECTS.

From Tho London Globe.
Some experiments recently carried out by Pro-
fessor Plateau Of the University OF Client, have
an interesting bearing on the theory OF the
origin II flowers by insect selection generally re-
cciycd in this country. This view, so intimately
associated with the names Of Sir John Lubbock.
Grant Allen and H. Muller. supposes that in
scots choose for their visits those forms and
coors Of flowers which suit them best. and 80
evolve the various species. Just as To use sir
j. Lubbnck's comparison. gardeners by their
selection have produced the varieties Of the gar.
den SO insects by their selection have produced
the species ~ our Wild flowers.
This theory depends on the belief that different
insects have different coors and forms Of flowers
which they prefer to others bees being supposed
to have q special taste for blue. Now PT, iessor
PIatcaus conclusions are directly opposed 10
these views for he claims 70 have shown that
insects are Indifferent the coors Of the flowers
they visit. and that. in tact. they are guided
10 them in a very subordinate way by sish,.
Tho experiments and observations upon when
these far-reaChing conclusions are based are OK
the following nature
when gayly colored single dahias were COW
cred with bits Of green leaves insects still came
- visit th-m. II was this result. 50 contrary
10 the generally received opinion. that insects
are attracted chiefly by color. which led Professor
Plateau 20 start his exhaustive series OF ohserNd-
lions ard experiments. 50 in the next place the
brightly colored corollas were removed from
such flowers as lOhclia, evening primrose ana
foxeloyc leaving only the green parts In spite
OF the lack 81 color these were freely VISITED by
insects Again certain brightly cOlored flowers
which are seldom or never visited by insects
were provided with honey Among those ex-
pcrmcntcd with was the common Seranium OF
our garden. when a drop Of honey was placed
on these bees were at once attracted to them.
but passed over blossoms which had not been
so provided In similar way. when honey was
placed on certain inconspicuous wild flowers.
rarely II ever visited, insects were at once at
tracted. a.,
Another experiment consisted in removing tho
honey bearing part Of the flower. This was ac-
complishcd with the single dahlia OF which me
inner norets containing the honey were removed,
leaving the outer SNOWY ones No insects came
TO visit these honcyless flowers. But as soon as
a drop OF honey was placed on them insects
came as before.
Artificial flowers made OF bits Of green lear,
and having a little honey in them. were visited
But artificial flowers made Of colored materials
were not visited. when provided with
houcv And besides these experiments, Profess
eor Plateau claims certain facts with regard 10
the WAYS OF insects in visiting noWeIS as also
supporting his conclusions. Thus. on a bed or
dirrrcnt colorcd varieties Of the same species
growing in a garden they Will pass from color
IN color with seeming Indifference AGAIN, they
yisi, freely quite large number OF green ana
ereeuish flowers also many inconspicuous ones
Of various colors.
n we accent Professor Plateau's facts. we can
scarcely avoid his conclusions that insects care
little for the colurs of the flowers they Visit.
and that sight plays only secondary part IN
guiding them.