When it’s time to pick a place for dinner, do you have a go-to spot? Pollinators aren’t so different.
When a honeybee sets out from the hive for a snack, will it settle for any run-of-the-mill chrysanthemum? Not a chance. It’s making a beeline for the nearest vibrant patch of sunflowers.
So, let’s dive into the preferences of bees, beetles and other pollinators. Whether you’re planting a pollinator-friendly garden or just curious about these fascinating creatures, read on.
Meet the Pollinators
What exactly is a pollinator? It’s an animal that helps plants reproduce by moving pollen from flower to flower. These animals visit flowers in search of mates, nesting materials and food. Flowers offer nectar (rich in sugars) and pollen (packed with proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals): everything a pollinator needs for energy, growth, flight and reproduction.
The three major categories of pollinators are:
- Birds
- Bats
- Insects
Birds and bats do have preferences. These unsung heroes of pollination prefer larger flowering plants. Birds help with not only pollinating but also spreading seeds. Bats, being nocturnal creatures, tend to pollinate nighttime flowering plants like mangoes and bananas.
Insect Pollinators
Insects are by far the most common and effective pollinators. We love all pollinators, but as home to one of the world’s largest entomology departments, we can’t help but play favorites.
Bees
Honeybees alone pollinate 80% of all flowering plants, including over 130 types of fruits and vegetables. Thankfully, they’re not too picky about where they feed on nectar and pollen.
Some native bee species are specialists, meaning they prefer specific plants they’ve co-evolved with over time. For example, the Gulf Coast evening bee only gathers pollen and nectar from the plant species Balduina angustifolia. Other bee species, like the bumblebee, are generalists, collecting nectar and pollen from native and non-native flowers alike.
Whether they’re picky or not, bees are on the lookout for:
- Nectar-rich flowers. Bees love regional wildflowers.
- Blue or yellow petals. (Bees can’t see red.)
- Sweet or minty scents. Bee balm is a great example.
- Flowers that open during the day.
- Symmetrical flowers, such as sunflowers and roses.
- Landing space.
Beetles
Beetles have been around for millions of years, pollinating plants before dinosaurs walked the Earth. They prefer magnolias, water lilies and anise: modern-day descendants of the ancient flowering plants these insects evolved with.
Butterflies
Not only do butterflies pollinate, but they also migrate incredible distances. Monarchs, for instance, travel 2,500 miles between Eastern North America and the Sierra Madre in Mexico every year. When resting their orange and black wings, they prefer to land on broad, flat-faced flowers like milkweeds.
Moths
Mostly nocturnal, moths prefer pale or white flowers that open in the late afternoon or evening. Many moths have long tongues, allowing them to reach nectar in flowers like morning glory, tobacco, yucca and gardenia that other pollinators can’t access.
Wasps
Wasps, hornets and yellowjackets lack the hairy legs and abdomens that help bees carry large amounts of pollen. Still, they contribute enough to earn an honorable mention. The fig wasp, for instance, pollinates nearly 1,000 species of figs.
Ants
Ants love nectar and typically go for small, low-growing flowers. But that doesn’t make them great pollinators. Wingless worker ants are unlikely to cross-pollinate, having to crawl into flowers to reach nectar. Some ant species actually secrete a natural substance that acts as an antibiotic, killing pollen grains.
Flies
Although flies can’t carry pollen as effectively as bees, some like the hoverfly or March fly are pretty good pollinators. Flies prefer flowers that are dull to dark brown or purple, including those that other insects might find unpleasant, like the striking red trillium, which smells of rotten flesh.
We Need All Our Pollinators
All pollinators have a role to play, from the fat and fuzzy bumblebee to the large and vibrant monarch butterfly. Together, they pollinate about 80% of flowering plants and over 75% of the staple crop plants. Without pollinators, fruits, vegetables and nuts would become rare luxuries. Yet despite their importance, pollinators face constant threats from pests, pesticides, habitat loss, disease and climate change.
Each of us can help protect pollinators. Planting a garden with pollinator-friendly flowers is a great start. But if you’re ready to take your passion even further, why not turn it into a career?
Study Entomology at UF
The University of Florida, home to one of the world’s largest entomology departments, offers a variety of online graduate programs perfect for anyone ready to dive into the world of insects. Attend UF online and you can earn a master’s degree or graduate certificate in:
- Beekeeping
- Medical Entomology
- Landscape Pest Management
- Urban Pest Management
Want to take a bigger role in protecting pollinators? Explore our online entomology programs. When you’re ready, apply to become a Gator. Together, we can make a difference for pollinators and the world they help sustain.
Sources:
https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/2022/09/14/pollinators-its-not-all-about-the-bees/
https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/gardening-with-wildlife/gardening-for-bees/
https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn-and-garden/pollination
