The male Mediterranean fruit fly secretes his cologne from a special place. The ladies love it ... but local predators also home in on the scent.
", "is_us_only": "false", "title": "World's Weirdest: Smelly Fruit Fly Cologne", "url": "http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/animals/bugs-animals/other-bugs/weirdest-fruit-fly/", "country_code_deny_list": [], "allowUserEmbed": "True", "related": { "link": [ { "url": "http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/06/100601-science-genetics-blue-smells-like-bananas-fruit-flies/", "name": "Article: Blue Light Smells Like Bananas to Gene-Altered Flies" } ] }, "credit": "National Geographic", "smil": "http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/data/xml/weirdest-fruit-fly.smil", "country_code_allow_list": [], "HTML5src": "/video/player/media-mp4/weirdest-fruit-fly/mp4/variant-playlist.m3u8", "still": "http://video.nationalgeographic.com/exposure/core_media/ngphoto/image/59614_0_616x346.jpg", "transcript": "Architecture. Fashion. Flirtation. All three seem to lure the females in.
But the male Mediterranean fruit fly has a different strategy: Perfume.
Eau de fruit fly is secreted from a rather unappealing place.
But female flies think it's irresistible.
As a potential mate flies by, the male uses his wings to waft the scent in her direction, just like an insect air freshener.
Unfortunately, his smelly bottom attracts more than fruit flies.
And he's too busy to notice.
Predatory wasps love fruit fly fragrance...and fruit fly flesh.
That's a pretty high price to pay for a little love.
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