It is practiced by the Blue Banded Bee and a number of native Australian carpenter bees, and involves the bee holding onto the plant and vibrating to get the pollen out. For example, 'buzz pollination' is needed to pollinate many Hibbertia species. The flower shape can be so restricting that a certain type of behaviour may be required to access the pollen. For example, the nectar at the base of a long tubular flower may only be accessed by insects that have long mouthparts such as butterflies, moths, flies and bees that have long lapping 'tongues'. Pure nectar feeders such as butterflies and moths do not eat the pollen.įlower shape can restrict access to pollen and nectar to only those insects that have the appropriate tools or abilities.The locality of the nectar ensures the insect cannot avoid touching the organs associated with pollination.When the insect visits another flower for more nectar, the pollen is transferred from its body to the stigma (pollen receiving female parts of the flower), causing pollination.Īdvantages of attracting a nectar feeder: In doing so the insect collects the pollen, as it sticks to its body. As the insect enters the flower in search of nectar it brushes against the anthers (pollen bearing male parts of the flower). This nectar collects in pools, below the sexual organs of the plant. The majority of flowering plants encourage insects to visit their flowers by secreting a sugar-rich liquid called nectar. They could be considered to be 'unreliable pollinators' as the pollinator might not go anywhere near the female organs of the same species of plant.They tend to be generalist feeders and eat other parts of the plant, including the sexual organs.They eat the very item the plant wants delivered - pollen.Pollination happens when the pollen feeder transfers the pollen to the pollen receivers of the same plant, or another plant of the same species, as the insect looks for more pollen to eat.ĭisadvantages of attracting a pollen feeder: In the process of eating they become covered in it. So the chance that a bee will transfer the pollen between flowers of the same species is very high. Bees are ideal pollinators because they visit many flowers while carrying lots of pollen, before returning to their nest. These adaptations allow them to gather and carry large volumes of pollen. Bees have special hairs that are arranged to form pollen 'baskets' on their hindlegs and the underside of their abdomen. For this reason bees have developed a number of adaptations that make them particularly good pollen carriers. Bees collect pollen and nectar not only for themselves but also to feed their young. The most sophisticated relationships between plants and insects are generally those involving bees. They are motivated to interact with pollen, as they either eat it or food items located nearby (e.g.They fly, and so are capable of visiting many plants in a relatively short amount of time.These insects make good pollinators because they share two important features: Species of bees, beetles, flies, wasps, thrips, butterflies and moths are all successful pollinators. One third of the human food supply is crops that are dependent on pollination by bees. Pollination by insects is vital for crop production.This plant family includes eucalypts, angophoras and tea trees.

For example, native bees pollinate many members of the plant family Myrtaceae. Pollination by insects is particularly important for Australian native trees and shrubs.Pollination by insects determines plant community structures.Pollination by insects is a much more reliable and efficient pollination mechanism than chance dispersal.Why is pollination by insects important for the environment and us? This has led to some strong associations between plants and insects. Because insects are such efficient pollinators, plants have developed many ways of encouraging them to visit. This percentage is even greater for economically important crops that provide fruits, vegetables, textile-related fibres and medicinal products. cycads and pines) require insects for pollination. It is estimated that 65% of all flowering plants and some seed plants (e.g.

Nectar definition for kids