Overview

• The study in Current Biology reports the first documented instance of ant mimicry by a plant.
• Chemical profiling found floral volatiles that overlap ant alarm odors, including nonane, undecane, 8Ac, 10Ac, and 6‑MMS.
• Y‑maze experiments showed chloropid flies preferred scents from ants attacked by spiders and from the plant, while ignoring crushed ants.
• Kleptoparasitic grass flies, which feed on fluids from injured insects, serve as pollinators when they visit the flowers seeking easy meals.
• Vincetoxicum nakaianum, a recently described Japanese dogbane first flagged after observations at Tokyo’s Koishikawa Botanical Gardens, also inspired planned evolutionary and genetic follow-up studies.