For the first time ever, it has been documented that a plant mimics the smell of injured ants to attract flies for pollination. This mimicry was seen in Vincetoxicum nakaianum, a newly described dogbane species native to Japan.

Researchers found that the flowers of this plant species release a scent that is almost identical to the odour of ants under attack by spiders. As the flies are drawn to the plant’s scent in search of food, they inadvertently pollinate the flowers.