Location: Amazon Headwaters, Peru
This image captures Giant Water Lilies the day. Their flowers go through a 2 day process, changing from a female to a male flower which begins when the flower opens with white pedals.
The flower then emits heat & a sweet smell to attract beetles which it then captures by closing their pedals, holding the beetle within the flower. The flower then goes through a process of changing to a male flower, producing pollen before reopening the second night and releasing the beetle which is covered in pollen, to continue the pollination process of other plants. The second day, the pedals also turn pink in color. As I captured this image, I was reminded just how important is it for us to protect areas like the Amazon which produces such biodiversity.
About The Photographer
Retried from a business career & now focus on travel, photography (wildlife & scenic landscape) & trying to keep a Mutt in line.Vote for this photo in the Nat Hab's 2024 Guest Photo Contest People’s Choice Awards! You can vote once per day, and each time you vote you’ll be entered for the chance to win a $500 Visa Gift Card or a $500 WWF Donation.