What is pollination?
Table of Contents
We often talk about the importance of insect pollinators like bees, hover flies, butterflies and their role in the pollination process on this site. But what exactly is pollination and why is it so important? Put simply, pollination is the process by which flowering plants reproduce.
Flowers consist of both male and female parts, the male part is known as the stamen and the female part known as the stigma. This process involves transferring pollen grains from the stamen (male part of the plant) to the stigma (female part of the plant). This process leads to the fertilisation of the ovule in the center of the flower.
Types of pollination
There are two types of pollination, self and cross-pollination. Self-pollinating plants pollinate themselves, as the pollen grains fall from the stamens directly on to the stigma to complete the process.
Cross-pollination occurs when the pollen from one plant is transferred to the stigma on another plant. This type requires help from an outside agency, such as bees, butterflies, birds and even the wind. This is why pollinators like bees are so important to complete this process.
Why are pollinators attracted to flowers?
Flowers need bees and other pollinators in order to survive. If there was an absence of pollinators many flowers would be unable to survive as they rely on bees, butterflies etc. to carry and deliver the pollen from other plants.
Flowers produce nectar which is a sugar liquid that bees and other pollinators feed on. To attract bees flowers have beautiful bright colours that come in all different shapes and sizes. They also produce a lovely scent that attracts pollinators.
Everyone can do their bit by growing bee friendly flowers, plants and shrubs
What are some of the key pollinators?
Bees are by far the most important pollinators with over 250 species present in the UK. The majority of bees visit flowers for the nectar which provides them with energy. As this happens the pollen attaches itself to the bees body, and as the bee moves from plant to plant the pollen is transferred, enabling pollination. However, most of the pollen is taken back to the colony to provide food for young bees.
Hover-flies are important pollinators, especially of agricultural crops, fruit trees and various flowers. They are often mistaken for wasps with their black and yellow bodies, however, this colour scheme acts as a warning sign to predators by mimicking stinging insects. Hover-flies obtain pollen and nectar from plants, preferring flowers where the pollen and nectar are within easy reach.
Butterflies Although their role in pollination is often overlooked butterflies and moths are important pollinators. Butterflies re more active during daylight hours while moths are mainly nocturnal. They visit flowers to feed on pollen and nectar, where the pollen often sticks to their body and wings and is transferred to other flowers in the process.
Wasps Although wasps have earned themselves a bad reputation as aggressive insects that sting, they are key pollinators. They are also insatiable and important predators keeping many garden pests in check. As many wasps feed on nectar they carry pollen on their bodies and transfer it to other flowers to help complete the pollination process.
What would happen if bees disappeared?
There are several contributing factors for the sharp decline in bee numbers, from agricultural practices, habitat loss and climate change. If bees were to disappear from this planet all together it could have dire consequences for the human population, as a world without bees is a scary thought.
Bees are the most important pollinators and responsible for pollinating around a third of the worlds crops. If bees suddenly disappeared over night things would look very bleak for the planet. There would be major repercussions for the planets ecosystem too.
Various plants, many of which we rely on for food would die off. Animals which are bred for food consumption would be affected to as their food source would disappear too. Other animals and wildlife, such as birds ans small rodents rely on bees for their food source could also disappear.
Some medicines that are derived from plants pollinated by bees would be lost.
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