How does the Mediterranean orchid Ophrys ensure pollination?

By mimicking the appearance of a female bee.

The correct answer is Option (2) - By mimicking the appearance of a female bee.

The Mediterranean orchid Ophrys ensures pollination by mimicking the appearance of a female bee. One petal of the Ophrys flower bears a striking resemblance to the size, color, and markings of a female bee.

This visual resemblance is part of a remarkable strategy known as "sexual deceit." Male bees, attracted by the deceptive petal resembling a female bee, attempt to mate with the flower, a behavior known as "pseudocopulation."

During this process, the male bee inadvertently picks up pollen from the flower. When the male bee visits another Ophrys flower and attempts pseudocopulation, it transfers the pollen to the stigma of the flower, enabling pollination to occur.

By employing this clever mimicry, Ophrys orchids ensure that they receive pollen transfer from male bees, effectively accomplishing pollination without offering traditional rewards such as nectar or pollen. This unique strategy highlights the co-evolutionary relationship between the orchid and the bee species involved, as slight changes in the orchid's petal appearance that reduce resemblance to female bees could result in reduced pollination success.