How do orchids know what bees look like?

[Hedge]

Well, plants did evolve before animals, but I'm not sure that evolution to flowering from spore production was before or after insects first appeared, and thus, like BobinBonita, I think they must have co-evolved

[Discus]

Originally Posted by Hedge

Well, plants did evolve before animals, but I'm not sure that evolution to flowering from spore production was before or after insects first appeared, and thus, like BobinBonita, I think they must have co-evolved

Flowering plants (Angiosperms) only came about around 140MYA I think. Insects are quite a bit older than this.

As with anything that has ended up co-evolving - like many insects and flowering plants - the chicken/egg situation is very prevalent!