typhlonectes:Flowers Viewed in Ultra-Violet LightMany flowers appear differently under UV light, oft
typhlonectes:Flowers Viewed in Ultra-Violet LightMany flowers appear differently under UV light, often showing patterns of rings or lines not visible to our naked eye. The photos above show Rudbeckia flowers as our eyes would see them (left) and using a special UV camera filter (right). The UV markings are designed to be seen by insects, which are able to see in the ultraviolet spectrum. They seem to be most often found in yellow flowers, and are thought to serve as “landing pads”. Called nectar guides, they serve as directional signals that point the pollinators to the nectar or other reward, such as pollen. These areas of UV reflectance are often sturdier than the non-reflectant part of the petal, which wear down faster, so sometimes as the flowers start to fade at the end of the summer it’s possible for our human eyes to see where the nectar guides are.photos by Paolo (Macro-roni) on Flickr(via: Peterson Field Guides) -- source link
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