The Pollination of Flowers by Bees & Wasps

Pollination

• Pollination is an essential part of sexual reproduction in plants. Some plants can self-pollinate, but cross-pollination between different plants maximizes the genetic diversity of the offspring. Pollen can be carried from plant to plant by the wind, by animals, or by insects.

Bees and Pollination

• When a bee visits a flower to collect nectar and pollen, some of the pollen sticks to the bee's hairs. This pollen is then carried by the bee to the next flower, where it rubs off and fertilizes the plant. Honey bees, in particular, are economically valuable pollinators of agricultural crops.

Wasps and Pollination

• Wasps visit flowers to feed on nectar, and to hunt for the insects they eat. They are less efficient at pollination than bees, because they lack the hairs that help the pollen to stick to their bodies. However, certain wasps are very important pollinators -- for example, fig wasps are essential for the pollination of fig trees.