| The most common pollinators are the bees. Some bees live in colonies and are particularly efficient pollinators, because when one bee finds a source of food, she can communicate its location to the rest of the bees in the hive. Other bees, such as bumble bees, are not colonial. Wasps are also important pollinators, as well as butterflies, moths, and flies. Even some beetles are important carriers of pollen. Pollination is one of the most successful forms of interdependence between two groups of organisms as different as insects and plants. The success and diversity of flowering plants is due in part to the insects, which are much more efficient pollinators than the wind. The enormous variety of flower shapes and colors is a result of each species competing with others for the attention of pollinators. |
A bee in a white crocus flower. Photo by Maya Walters. |
flowers & pollen -- page 2 of 5
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
related topics
[insects]
view the condensed version of the flowers & pollen article for faster printing/reading
return to the plants article