Pollination in the pre-flower-power era

Scorpionflies may have aided plant reproduction long before blossoms evolved

An obscure group of scorpionflies with specialized mouthparts may have pollinated ancient plants millions of years before flowers evolved, a new study suggests.

EQUIPPED TO SIP The long, tubular proboscis (arrow, left image) sported by some species of scorpionflies suggests that the insects were pollinating ancient plants including conifers (right) millions of years before flowers evolved.