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Insects That Carry Pollen From One Plant to Another

Plants reproduce by means of spreading pollen, which is the botanical equivalent of sperm, to the female structures in other plants. However, because plants can't move on their own, they need help in order to spread their genetic material widely enough to reach other plants and fertilize their ovules, the plant equivalent of eggs. There are many different species of insects that help plants to do this. Many species of plants, including both flowers and important food crops, could not survive at all if not for the assistance of insects in pollination.

Bees
- The most widely recognized plant-pollinating insect is the bee. Some species of bees, like the honeybee, pollinate flowers. Every day a single honeybee might visit up to several thousand flowers, carrying pollen between them. They are social bees that nest in hives. They do most of their pollination within 100 yards of their hive. Other bee species pollinate other plants. The squash bee specializes in squashes such as pumpkins. Squash bees are not social insects and interact little, though they will nest together underground.
Sawflies
- Some species of sawfly feed on the pollen, nectar and leaves of flowers. During their feeding, they carry pollen from one flower to another. Other sawflies feed on insects that visit flowers. While stalking their prey, they also spread pollen. Some sawfly larvae grow in plants. When the adults visit these plants, they spread the plants' pollen.
Wasps
- Sphecidae and Vespidae, two large families of wasps, feed on the nectar and pollen of certain flowers. They even stockpile these substances in their nests for later feeding. While collecting nectar and pollen, they transfer pollen from one flower to another, thus fertilizing the plants and ensuring their reproduction.
Beetles
- Beetles are the most numerous type of pollinator in the world, though less effective than insects like honeybees. Beetles pollinate 88 percent of all flowering plants, according to the U.S. Forest Service. They feed on nectar, pollen and plant leaves. They find their way to flowers with spicy or sweet odors, though they are capable of recognizing colors.
Butterflies and Moths
- Butterflies sometimes feed on flower nectar when adults. However, they also have many other sources of food, including other insects such as aphids. Because of their different feeding behaviors, they are only intermittent pollinators. Moths also assist in pollinating, also intermittently, and mostly at night.
Ants
- There are about twenty different species of ants worldwide that take part in plant pollination. Ants travel widely while looking for food and often travel between one plant and another, spreading pollen as they move. (See References 4)

Insects & Science