Shae Porter

Pollination is crucial for the survival and reproduction of most flowering plants. For this reason, many plants have evolved unique methods to attract pollinators. Plants manipulate their flower color, shape, scent, and other structures to attract specific pollinators. These adaptations are known as ‘pollinator syndrome.’ Flowers attracting bees are brightly colored in white, blue, or yellow and have a fresh scent.

Many of us are familiar with bees and butterflies as pollinators, but other invertebrates contribute to pollination and important plant services. For example, beetles pollinated flowering plants before bees and butterflies even existed! They were abundant during the Mesozoic era, 200 million years ago, and the earliest plant life on Earth appeared soon after.

Imagine starting your morning without a cup of coffee. A salad with nothing but lettuce. No fragrant flowers in the spring or sweet watermelons in the summer. These are a few of the food items we would be missing without pollinators; others include almonds, apples, apricots, bananas, carrots, tomatoes, strawberries, kale, vanilla, and chocolate. 80% of all flowering plants that produce fruits, vegetables, nuts, and spices require pollination.