Why bees are the best pollinators in the world!
Many flowers are unable to produce seeds unless pollen is transferred from the male to the fmale part of the flower. Over 80% of pollination is carried out by various insects, with honeybees leading the charge. Honeybees dedicate much of their lives visiting flowers to gather pollen, which they use to feed thier young during development. Each time they fly to and from the hive, they land on numerous flowers, leaving behind a small amount of pollen that falls from their legs.
PROCESS OF POLLINATION
As bees collect nectar, their tiny bodies can become coated in pollen. They use their forelegs to moisten and brush the pollen towards their hind legs, where it is stored in their “pollen pockets”, also known as corbula. This method ensures that the pollen doesn’t drop off during flight. When a bee visits the next flower, some of this pollen will rub off onto the flowers female part, called the stigma. The pollen travels down the stigma into the ovary, where the plant’s eggs are located. This process fertilizes the eggs, leading to the formation of new seeds.
When the mother plant eventually dies and wilts to the ground, the new seeds will germinate and grow into seedlings, eventually maturing into a full grown plant.
Farmers rely on bee colonies to pollinate their crops. Without this essential process, crop yields would significantly decline, resulting in fewer fruits and vegetables available at the local farmers’ market and supermarkets.
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