Pollinators
Pollinators are hard-working animals that help pollinate over 75% of our flowering plants, and nearly 75% of our crops. Examples of pollinators include hummingbirds, bats, bees, beetles, and butterflies. These creatures fly and carry pollen from one plant to another as they collect nectar. Without them, wildlife species would produce fewer nutritious berries and seeds, and we would miss many fruits, vegetables, and nuts, such as blueberries, squash, and almonds . . . not to mention chocolate and coffee…all of which depend on pollinators.
In the United States, pollination by honey bees directly or indirectly (e.g., pollination required to produce seeds for the crop) contributes to over 19 billion dollars worth of crops in recent years. Pollination by other insect pollinators contributes to nearly 10 billion dollars worth of crops.
Bees
Bees are interesting social animals. Scientists have studied them for a long time but there are many aspects of a bee’s life that remain a mystery. A single bee can collect enough nectar to make 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey. In addition, bees eat flower nectar, and pollen. Many plants depend on bees to spread pollen.
Honeybees, as well as other types of bees, are starting to disappear. Scientists are trying to find out why. If bees disappear we will lose our food supply. We would also lose many different kinds of plants on Earth. Our pollinator garden will help attract bees, which will pollinate our fruits and vegetables and give the bees a good food source so they can survive.
Butterflies
Butterflies are wonderful pollinators! Practically their entire lives are spent around plants. Butterflies drink the nectar of many flowers and as they sip they help spread pollen from plant to plant. Examples of butterflies that are native to Grand Island include the monarch, swallowtail, and the checkerspot butterfly.
Bats
Bats are nocturnal animals. They most commonly pollinate plants in tropical and desert climates. Bats are natural pest controllers, eating many kinds of insects that can damage crops or carry disease. For example, just one little brown bat can eat more than 1,000 mosquitoes in an hour. Bat species that feed on nectar help plants reproduce by spreading pollen from one flower to the next. Fruit bats pass seeds through their digestive systems, spreading the seeds in their droppings and helping new fruit plants to sprout.
What other kinds of animals can you think of that are pollinators?