Flies are scavengers and trend to break down dead organisms. Based on this information, what is a plant characteristic that would best attract flies?
Options:
Flowers that are light colored
Flowers that emit a rotten odor
Flowers that emit a sweet odor
Flowers that are brightly coloref
Flowers that emit a rotten odor
A plant characteristic that would best attract flies is flowers that emit a rotten odor.
To determine the best plant characteristic that would attract flies, we can think about their behavior as scavengers. Flies are attracted to decaying matter and, in this case, dead organisms. Therefore, the plant characteristic that would be most likely to attract flies is flowers that emit a rotten odor. Flies are particularly attracted to the smell of decomposition as it signals a potential food source for them.
To further support this answer, we can observe that many flowers that rely on flies for pollination have evolved to produce a foul smell resembling rotting flesh or other decomposing organic matter. This scent is intended to mimic the smell of a dead animal or plant, which can greatly attract flies.