Beetles, butterflies and bees! Oh my! | Bay naturalist







A white-rimmed sphinx hovers over a flower for food. It is one of the many species of the Sphingidae family commonly referred to as hummingbirds due to their size and flight characteristics. (Tom Koerner / US Fish & Wildlife Service)




Pollination is the movement of pollen from the male part of a flower, the anther, to the female part, the stigma. This transfer is necessary for the production of seeds and fruits, and it ensures the genetic variability essential for healthy plant populations.

Plants can be pollinated by wind or water, but they are most often pollinated by animals. About 75% of all flowering plants require animal pollinators. Without them, these plants could not produce seeds and fruits and would eventually disappear, just like other animals that depend on plants.

Many of the fruits and vegetables we eat depend on animal pollinators.

What is a good pollinator? They must be very mobile and able to move quickly among flowers and flower clusters. They must have structures that the pollen can attach to. Pollinating animals often have specialized adaptations for collecting nectar or pollen (a hummingbird’s tongue, a butterfly’s trunk, a bee’s “pollen baskets”).

Who are the pollinators? The club includes at least one mammal: the bat. While most bats feed exclusively on flying insects, some species feed on nectar. The small-nosed bat, found in Mexico, Arizona, and New Mexico, is especially important for the pollination of agaves and cacti. It uses its long snout and tongue to reach for nectar and pollen.






Monarch butterfly and caterpillar

A monarch (Danaus plexippus) shown in both the caterpillar (larval) and butterfly (adult) stage, the latter being when it performs its pollination mission. (US Fish & Wildlife Service)


Hummingbirds are the most common pollinating birds. They feed on flowers with a wide variety of shapes and colors – not just tubular and red – but they prefer larger, more showy flowers with plenty of nectar. In the eastern United States, the ruby-throated hummingbird is the only species of hummingbird. In Hawaii, lianas are an essential bird for pollination.

Bees, of course, are the workhorses of the pollinating world. They have excellent characteristics for this role. They are very mobile, covered with pollen collecting hairs and adapted to feed on nectar and / or pollen. Some even have “baskets” attached to their hind legs to carry pollen.

Bees and bumblebees are social insects that often live in colonies, although many species do not, and they are equally important for the pollination of trees and plants. Some examples of solitary bees include the small, metallic-looking greenish-blue sweat bee; the mason bee, which uses clay to seal its nest; and the leaf-cutter bee, so named because it lines its nest (either in the ground or in small cavities in the wood) with leaves that they cut.

Butterflies and moths are another group of familiar pollinators. A long mouthpiece known as a probiscus (basically a straw) allows these insects to easily collect nectar from flowers. The monarch, eastern tiger swallowtail, and zebra swallowtail are easily identified by their large size and vivid coloring. Equally important are the smaller, less recognizable butterflies and moths. Members of Sphingidae family are sometimes called hummingbird butterflies because of the way they soar while collecting nectar with their long proboscis.






Soldier scarab

A brightly colored garden flower attracts a soldier beetle, the common name (along with Leatherwing) of the Cantharidae family of beetles, which are prolific pollinators. (Sue Cro / CC BY-NC 2.0)


Less familiar pollinators include certain species of flies, wasps, hornets, and beetles. Pollinator flies often look like bees, but do not bite or sting. This resemblance is believed to protect them from predators. Wasps and hornets primarily feed their young other insects, but also regularly visit flowers to collect nectar.

Beetles are the most diverse group of insects, with millions of species worldwide. Some, like soldier beetles (very common in mid to late summer), are very suitable for feeding on flowers. Even mosquitoes occasionally feed on flowers to obtain nectar for energy.

How can you help pollinators?

It is increasingly evident that pollinators are in decline. This is due to habitat loss and fragmentation, resulting in loss of food and / or shelter. Pollinators can be affected directly by insecticides and indirectly by herbicides which kill the plants they need for food or habitat. Invasive plant species sometimes replace native plants that provide food or habitat for pollinators or their larvae. Diseases, as well as parasites, are known to affect some bees.

A well-planned pollinator garden will provide food for a variety of pollinating animals throughout the year. Native plants can be a food source for caterpillars, which, of course, grow into colorful butterflies and moths. Choose species that provide a constant source of nectar throughout the year. Install native nectar-bearing plants in clumps.

Remember that a variety of plants will also lead to a variety of pollinators.

To learn more about native plants suitable for where you live, visit pollinator.org. Under Resources, click Planting Guides. You can then enter your zip code to find a guide specific to your area that you can download.

About Sherri Flowers

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