Pollinator Preference
Not all pollinators look alike, and not all pollinators eat alike. Many pollinators have evolved to eat nectar (and sometimes pollen) from specific flowers. And the flowers depend on them.
For example, hummingbirds have long, thin beaks that can reach nectar in the bottom of long, thin flowers. Their favorite color flowers are red and orange. They flap their wings quickly to hover in place, so they do not need broad petals to land on.
Bees have a preference for brightly colored flowers with strong, sweet scents and large areas to land and walk on.
Nocturnal pollinators such as bats and moths like pale or white flowers that blossom at night.
Learn more about pollinators and their preferences.
Image courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation.
Learn fun facts about pollination!
- Honey bees are the most important pollinator for crops in the United States, including fruit. A single honey bee can visit 5,000 flowers in one day!
- Some bats are pollinators too. The lesser long-nosed bat pollinates saguaro cactus flowers in the southwestern U.S. The banana bat in South America pollinates – you guessed it, banana flowers!
- An estimated one to three bites of food we eat come from pollinating plants!
- Worldwide, there are about 1,400 crops grown for food or plant products. 80% of these require pollination by animals.
Top image of honey bee by Rob Flynn, courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service; middle image of lesser long-nosed bat courtesy of the National Park Service; bottom image of a peach tree by Keith Weller, courtesy of USDA Agricultural Research Service.