Pollination by insects
Now there’s something I take for granted,  but now I have some idea just how
important it is to us  and our very existence. One third of the human food supply
are  crops that are dependent  on pollination by bees beetles, flies, wasps, thrips,
butterflies and moths. It is estimated that 65% of all flowering plants and some seed  plants require insects for pollination.

Without flowers, many plants would not be able to reproduce and many insects
would not be able to get enough protein or  carbohydrates to survive. So next time
 you see a creepy crawly,  just move out of its way, it might be going to pollinate part  of your next meal.

No Insects, No Flowers
Pollination  is the key to reproduction of plants Without it,  existing populations
of plants would decline, even if soil, air, nutrients, and other life-sustaining
elements were available.

Insects fly and so are capable of visiting many plants in a relatively short amount
of time They are motivated to interact  with pollen, as they either eat it or the
nectar located in the  flower. 

Flowers have developed to attract insects by providing a place  to land and lines
on the petals from that pad to the nectar.  Some flowers have hinges and require
an insect of the right  weight to open the flower and go right inside.

Some insects eat the pollen and other parts of the plant and may  visit a plant
without pollinating it. The majority of flowering plants encourage insects to visit their flowers by secreting a sugar-rich liquid called nectar. As the insect enters the flower in search of nectar it brushes against the anthers (pollen bearing  male parts of the flower). In doing so the insect collects the pollen, as it sticks to its body. When the insect visits another  flower for more nectar, the pollen is transferred from its body to the stamen (pollen receiving female parts of the flower), causing pollination.

Bribery
Pollination by a nectar feeder has a number of possible advantages  including:
The locality of the nectar ensures the insect cannot avoid  touching the organs
associated with pollination.
Pure nectar feeders such as butterflies and moths do not eat  the pollen, but they
do spread it around.

Smelly flowers
Scent is an effective way of luring pollinators. For example,  strong smelling flowers tend to be visited by beetles and flies,  while bees and butterflies visit sweet smelling flowers. It is  also an effective means of directing pollinators to the pollen  receivers.

No doubt the next  article will be about something truly amazing  that lives only in Australia.

http://pollinator.com/
http://www.backyardnature.net/fl_polln.htm

3 Did You Know Quick Fact / Question
In the Middle Ages, honey was believed to promote the birth of  a male child, which  was considered lucky as a first-born. On their wedding day, the father of the groom  would give the couple  enough honey to last a month (a moon), assuring that the child  conceived during the first days of marriage was a boy -  hence  Honey Moon.

4.  Recommended Sites
Susan Nichols
Interactive Marketing Ezine
http://www.vectorcentral.com

Creative Memories Consultant
www.mycmsite.com/cnugent
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Linda Offenheiser Publisher/Editor
All the Write Stuff Ezine
http://stress-freecopy.com/

Click daily to help provide free mammograms.
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