View allAll Photos Tagged Pollination
"If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live." - Albert Einstein
Hmmm...I wonder how true that is. Long ago..probably true. Nowadays...who knows? Yes, bugs could be pesky, but we don't realize how important some are. Like this little bumblebee, busy collecting pollen, unknowingly pollinating this female pumpkin flower. The bees and other bugs do a fantastic job pollinating every year...I even get some pretty fascinating cross-pollinated pumpkins and gourds. Only rarely is there a slow morning insect-wise that gets me to go out and hand-pollinate.
Time to go catch up! Have a wonderful Wednesday, my friends!
I finally got outside. it was windy during golden hour, and the pollinators were just briefly lighting. This is the result...
SPRING FLOWERS ARE A WELCOME SIGHT FOR GARDENERS, BUT EVEN MORE SO FOR POLLINATING INSECTS..Bumblebees, solitary bees, butterflies and many other pollinators emerge when the weather warms up, but pollen and nectar can be hard to come by. A huge number of plants rely entirely on bees and other insects for pollination, and yet population numbers are declining.
A bulbous perennial to 15cm in height, with paired, strap-shaped leaves and starry, white-centred, bright blue flowers 3cm in width, borne in clusters of 2-3 on a leafless stem..The sweet nectar hidden among the brightly coloured petals of early spring flowers can be a lifeline for hungry insects.
Some species of bee, such as honeybees meanwhile don’t hibernate, so they will become more active and start collecting nectar as soon as your spring flowers arrive. There are even some species of butterfly that will be migrating back to the UK from warmer climes, so will need plenty of nectar after their long trip
This pair of black-chinned hummingbirds didn't care for the honey bees but they really liked the red yucca blossoms. (Black headed hummer is the male)
This is a composite of two photos, but realistically depicts the scene. Depth of field is about 1.5 inches so it would be impossible to have both birds in perfect focus simultaneously.
Hello There!
I can't say that I've seen such an orange undercarriage before which makes me wonder if it is a different type of bee, or if it is simply covered with a thick layer of pollen. One thing, it sure was a speedy flier and tough to get an image of. This bee is gathering nectar from a wildflower called "Prairie Clover." In a ditch? Yes!
An ID has come my way, hip hooray and a big thank you to Jerome and Lou!!! It is a Leafcutter Bee, genus Megachile.
Thanks a million for stopping by and your comments! I do love hearing from you. Have a lovely day!
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A female Monarch butterfly on its way to the wintering grounds in Mexico and a honeybee having lunch on a Frostweed inflorescence.
TWU Butterfly Garden, Denton, Texas
Floral pigments have a large role to play in pollination of flowers by animals. This flower's radiating lines led directly to the pollen filled center of the blossom.
It's a pretty herb and one that has medicinal purposes. Its essential oil is also used in perfumes and as a flavouring for vermouths, wines and liqueurs. Clary sage also attracts pollinators such as hummingbirds and butterflies so I'd say this is is an all-around winner.
Thank you for your visits and comments, they're very much appreciated. Have a great weekend!
I have no clue what kind of bee, wasp or whatever this is. I do know it is on some Aster flowers! :D Thanks to Leigh Ayres for the identification of this bee!! (Leafcutter bee)
Happy Beautiful Bee Butt Thursday Have a great day folks, sadly another from the archives! But hopefully they will return. ;0) HBBBT
It's a Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) in flight. It's puzzling to me why the lower part of this bee's hind leg is so long and looks the way that it does, as I can't find any photos elsewhere that look like this. Anyway, Happy Wing Wednesday, folks!
A bottle fly visiting a flower in my garden. A lot of people don't realize that flies are critical pollinators in both natural and agricultural systems. A recent analysis of crop species found that flies visited 72% of the 105 crops studied (bees visited 93%). This is just one of the ways that flies contribute to the ecosystem. I can understand peoples initial distaste for flies, due in large part to their portrayal in popular media. I used to feel the same way about them but as I've learned more through my macro photography I've grown to appreciate a lot of the insects that most people don't.