More inconspicuous pollinators

When we think about pollination, what immediately springs to mind are bees. But the truth is, they’re far from being the only foragers: a host of lesser-known insects also play a key role in plant reproduction.

On a lovely summer’s day, you find yourself walking through the Insectarium’s Pollinator Garden. The flowers are soothing to the eye. Scents, colors and sounds all complement one another. Suddenly, on a flower, a buzzing sound catches your attention. Must be a bee, you’re thinking. But surprise! The foraging insect is something else entirely.

This is a perfectly natural way to think: bees are leading ambassadors for pollination. But there are a number of other, underappreciated, insects that play the same role. Let’s find out what they are.

Making the world thrive

Pollination refers to transporting pollen from one flower to another. That transfer makes fertilization possible, followed by the formation of seeds – and often of fruit. Without pollination, many plants wouldn’t be able to reproduce.

Pollen will sometimes be borne by water or by the wind, but it’s mostly the job of insects. They’re so effective, that 90 percent of flowering plants rely on them. The planet would be a very different place if it weren’t for their presence. And so would what’s on our plates, since 75 percent of our crop diversity benefits from pollination. Strawberries, chocolate, vanilla, raspberries – we have insects to thank for those delights!

Obviously, these insects aren’t foraging out of the goodness of their hearts. Mostly they’re looking for nectar, and sometimes pollen, which supply them with the energy and the nutrients they need. Meaning pollen transport, in a sense, is a side effect of that search for food.

And this work is far from being carried out by bees alone. Pollination depends on a whole team, one made up notably of beetles, flies, wasps and butterflies. Here are three portraits of surprising pollinators.

A true drone

The bumble flower beetle (Euphoria inda) easily deceives the eye. With its stocky, hairy body, it looks like a bumblebee. Even the way it flies and the buzzing sound it makes help maintain the illusion. Nevertheless, we’re dealing with a member of the order Coleoptera, a group that includes ladybugs and scarab beetles.

In Québec it can be seen mostly in the spring, when it comes out of hibernation, and then again in August and September, when the new generation reaches adulthood. Its larval stage takes place underground, though, and so goes pretty much unnoticed.

Adults feed on decomposing fruit, pollen and nectar. When they visit flowers, pollen grains cling to the bristles (setae) that cover their bodies, which is what helps them take part in pollen transportation.

Not too bad, for a wasp

The northern paper wasp (Polistes fuscatus) is a fascinating insect. For a long time, wasps were considered to be poor pollinators. Less hairy than bees and thought of more as predators or parasites, they didn’t seem cut out for the job.

And yet, a series of recent studies reveals that wasps play a much more important role than what was once thought – and our northern paper wasp makes quite the impression. It deposits as many pollen grains on goldenrods as the common eastern bumblebee (Bombus impatiens), which is known to be a super-pollinator.

Studies are ongoing, but they already show that wasps are valuable allies in gardens: not just predators but pollinators as well – enough to restore their reputation!

A pollinator in the shadows

Abbott’s sphinx (Sphecodina abbottii) can be observed in May and June – assuming you’re still outside when it makes an appearance. With sunset the night shift begins, making way for an especially diverse range of wildlife – wildlife that depends less on eyesight to meet its needs. Thus, moths are most inclined to pollinate white or pale flowers that give off a strong scent during the night.

The family of sphinx moths is a well-documented case where certain relationships between flowers and insects are highly exclusive. Charles Darwin predicted, in 1862, the existence of a butterfly based simply on the observation of a flower’s anatomy. Patience eventually proved him right when, almost 135 years later, the Morgan’s sphinx moth (Xanthopan morganii) was discovered feeding on that very same flower. An absolute match between two species that evokes the understated beauty of ecological interactions.

From diversity emerges resilience

Taken individually, these insects may seem inconspicuous, or even incidental. But together they form a complex network that makes ecosystems – and by extension our societies – more resilient.

Discovering that diversity amounts to taking action to protect it. Each and every one of us can go a step further: planting a variety of plant species, opting for indigenous plants, and avoiding pesticides are simple ways of hosting these valuable allies.

Next time you see an insect on a flower, take a second to observe it. Maybe it’s not a bee – but it’s nevertheless a pollinator doing a job every bit as important and that deserves to be celebrated!

The Insectarium presents Les Butineries from July 24 to 26! 
Celebrate pollinator insects at a FREE festival for the whole family. This year, musicians from the OSM will be on hand to add a touch of musical magic to enchanting tales starring local pollinators.

Also read:

Pollinators: an essential link in most terrestrial ecosystems