The poLLinators

Pollen are the dust of life. Either you find pollen as a curse rather than a blessing, still this unique dust has an important role to play, of course with the help of those busy pollinators. Let's meet some of them.

Flies and Beetles
These are some of the unsung heroes of pollination. If you enjoy chocolate, you can thank a tiny fly that does the job of pollinating the flowers of the cacao tree.

Butterflies and Moths
These attractive insects depends largely on nectar for food, picking up pollen as they fly from one flower to another. Some beautiful orchids depend entirely on moths for successful pollination.

Sunbirds and Hummingbirds
These colorful birds constantly flit from flower to flower, sipping nectar. Pollen gets deposited on the feathers of the birds' forehead and breast.

Bees and Wasps
The hairy bodies of bees pick up pollen as readily as a pair of spectacles picks up dust, making bees ideal pollinators. Just one bumblebee can carry as many as 15,000 grains of pollen. The honeybee is the world's most important pollinator. It usually concentrates on only one type of flower abundant near its hive. It is calculated that as much as 30% of all human food is directly or indirectly dependent on pollination by bees. Crops such as almonds, apples, cherries and plums need pollination by bees. Farmers pay beekeepers for the service each hive provides.

Thanks to you busy pollinators, for distributing the "dust of life."