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Pollinators are vital to life as we know it. They move pollen between flower structures so flowers can be fertilized to produce fruits and seeds. While some plants are self-pollinated and others are pollinated by the wind, many are pollinated by animals, primarily insects in Illinois. These insects include bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, and flies. Some insect pollinators, like bees, intentionally collect pollen. Others, like butterflies and moths, move pollen accidentally when it sticks to their bodies while feeding on nectar.
Click on the buttons below to learn much more about each type of pollinating insect.
Different flower features can influence what types of pollinators visit them. These features are referred to as pollinator syndromes. By looking at different traits that flowers possess such as flower color, scent, amount of pollen present, flower shape, and presence of nectar guides one can get an idea of what types of pollinators may pollinate that particular plant.
Bees & Wasps
Beetles
Butterflies
Moths
Flower Flies
Filth Flies
Color
White, yellow, blue, ultraviolet
White, green
Bright red, purple
Red, purple, pink, white
White, yellow, ultraviolet
Pale, dark brown, putple
Nectar guides
Present
None
Present
None
Present
None
Odor
Fresh, mild, pleasant
None, strongly fruity, or foul
Faint but fresh
Strong, sweet; most at night
Fresh, mild, pleasant
Putrid
Nectar
Usually present
Sometimes present
Ample; deeply hidden
Ample; deeply hidden
Usually present
Usually absent
Pollen
Limited; often sticky, scented
Ample
Limited
Limited
Limited; often sticky, scented
Modest
Shape
Shallow, with landing platform; tubular
Large, bowl-shaped
Narrow tube with spur; wide landing pad
Regular, tubular without a tip
Shallow, with landing platform
Shallow, funnel-like, or complex with trap
Adapted from USDA-FS https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/What_is_pollination/syndromes.shtml
Nectar guides are markings or patterns on flowers that direct pollinators to nectar. Some nectar guides may be ultraviolet (UV) and aren’t visible to humans. They can be found on many white and yellow flowers such as daisies and asters.
