Pollinating Insects

Pollinating Insects#

1 . What are the two most common insects for pollination in our area?

Honey bees and Bumble bees

2 . What is “buzz pollination?

Bumble bees forage in such a way as to vibrate the flower which releases pollen. The pollen sticks to their bodies and is deposited onto the next flower the bee visits.

3 . Name reasons why the honey bee is such a valuable pollinator:

  1. They are a perennial colony

  2. Nectar and pollen are their only food

  3. The have abundant plumose hairs to collect pollen

  4. They display “flower constancy” behavior which means they consistently visit the same species of flowers even when others are available

  5. Populations can be manipulated

  6. A lot is known about their biology

  7. Honey bee is a “generalist” and visits many flowers

  8. Forages in all but the worst weather

  9. We can partially direct where and when it forages