15 pollinating animals - Characteristics and examples

What is pollination?

Reproduction of most plant species occurs sexually, that is, it requires the union of female and male cells for fertilization .Cells are found in pollen (male), so it needs to be transferred to the flower pistil (female), where fertilization occurs and, after this process, the flower becomes a fruit with seeds.

So, when we talk about the reproduction of plants, the intervention of a third party is often required, which is known as " pollinator " to do it possible.

These pollinating agents can be insects, other animals and even natural elements such as water and wind.In the case of animal species, they have found a balance with the flora and evolved together, so that plants have been able to produce flowers of different aromas, shapes and colors in order to attract pollinating agents to feed on the nectar.

When animals feed on the nectar, transport pollen involuntarily on their legs, wings or another part of the body.When covered with pollen, they deposit it on the next flower they feed on, allowing the substance to reach the pistil so that the reproductive process is completed.Now, when it comes to pollinating, there are different ways, some involve the intervention of animals and others do not, so you should know the different types of pollination that exist.

Types of Pollination

These are the different types of pollination that exist:

Direct pollination

Also called autopolization , occurs when the pollen of the flower is transferred to the pistil of the same flower.It can be autogamy or geitogamia.

• Autogamy : occurs when the male and female gametes they come from the same flower.
• Geitogamia : occurs when the male and female gametes come from different flowers, but of the same species; that is, pollen is transported from one flower to another of the same plant.Different pollinating agents (animals, water or air) are involved.

Cross-pollination

In This type of pollination, the pollen of one species is transported to the pistil of a flower of another species .Pollinating agents are essential for this process and, depending on which is responsible for transporting the pollen, we would face to several subtypes of pollination.

These subtypes are:

• Abiotic pollination : occurs thanks to the intervention of animals.It can be ornithophyll (birds ), zoophyll (mammals) or entomophyll (insects).
• Abiotic pollination : occurs thanks to the intervention of water (hydrophilic) or wind (anemophila), agents that are responsible of accidentally moving the pollen, either to the same plant or to others, so there are cases in which the abiotic pollination is, in turn, a subtype of the self-pollination.
• Vibratory pollination : it is used by bees and bumblebees to extract pollen from tubular flowers, since otherwise they cannot access it.The process is simple : the insect clings with its legs to the flower and flaps its wings; the resulting vibratory movement helps to remove pollen spores.

Artificial pollination

It is the one that occurs with the intervention of the human being .It takes place with agricultural production objectives or when it is desired to obtain some specific characteristics in the plant in question.The human being intervenes throughout the process and monitors the stages to achieve the expected result.It is the opposite of the natural pollination, described in the previous types and subtypes.

Now that you know the different types of pollination, it is time to show you which animals are responsible for intervening in this process.

Pollinating insects

We will begin this list of pollinating animals with insects, the best-known animals in the task of pollinate flowers .Next, we mention the main and best-known pollinating insects, next to their Features:

1.Bees

Bees, belonging to the Apoidea family, are insects that can be found practically around the world.The importance of bees as pollinating insects is one of the biggest concerns at the level We talk about some of the most important animals, because they play an important role not only in maintaining the balance of ecosystems, but also in the food production of human beings, since they are responsible for pollinating multiple species that are grown for consumption.All species of bees that exist are responsible for fulfilling this function.

Discover also in Animals and Pets Online: What would happen if there were no bees?

2.Ants

Ants belong to the Formicidae family and are Eurosocial insects, that is, they have a well-defined social organization in which each member plays a role around the figure of a queen ant.

Among the foods that ants eat, flowers are found, so contribute to pollination , although to a lesser extent.In most cases, they are among the pollinating animals with the pollen on their backs, that is, they can load part of the pollen in their loins accidentally .They are also pollinating animals and seed dispersers, since they often contribute to transport them.

3.Flowers of flowers

The Sirphids, names of a family of diphtheria insects that are also called flower flies, have an extensive global distribution.In addition, their external appearance often allows them to be confuse with bees.Generally, these flies prefer white or yellow flowers, and there are even some species that only feed on the nectar of specific flowers.By feeding on this nectar, they contribute to transporting the pollen.

4.Butterflies

Butterflies belong to the order of lepidoptera, which also includes moths and other insects.There are about 165,000 species, most of which are among the animals nocturnal pollinators , although there are also diurnal varieties.

In order to extract the nectar from the flowers, the butterflies have an elongated tube-shaped mouthpiece called spirits, with which they suck to feed.Thanks to this, they can transport pollen to different flowers.

5.Bumblebee

The common bumblebee ( Earth Bombus ) is an insect that looks similar to the bee when it comes to colors, since its body is yellow and black , with the exception of presenting greater size and villi.They feed on nectar and pollen , which they store in their colonies whose organization is similar to that of bees.When they require it, they use vibratory pollination.

6.Wasps

Under the name of wasp, it encompasses various species of the order Hymenoptera.They measure around five centimeters and have a black and yellow coloration, in addition to a poisonous stinger .Although the diet of wasps are mostly carnivora, sometimes can feed on nectar and transport pollen accidentally.

7.Mosquitoes

Not all mosquitoes feed on blood, in fact, only females are hematophagous.Males, on the other hand, release the nectar of flowers and contribute to pollination In America alone, they are responsible for pollinating almost 400 different species of plants.

8.Collectors

Coleopteros are commonly known as beetles and inhabit the Earth from the Permico.There are about 375,000 species that are distributed almost everywhere in the world, they have different sizes and shades, although they are identified by large-sized mouthparts in most species.Beetles feed on fungi, other insects, roots, wood, decaying material, flowers and pollen , so some species contribute to the task of pollinating.

Pollinating animals that are not insects

Now, did you know that there are other animals, besides insects, that are responsible for pollinating flowers? Here are other pollinating animals that are not insects:

9.Colibries

The hummingbirds belong to the Trochilidae family and are endemic to the American continent, where there are about 300 species.They are characterized by their small size, elongated and thin beak, and wings capable of moving at an impressive speed.However, what does the hummingbird eat? All species of hummingbirds feed on nectar , so that their pollinator role is very important.In particular, they fulfill this role with tubular flowers, where their beaks allow them to reach food.

10.Lemur

Different species of endemic primates of the island of Madagascar are included under the name of lemurs.They are nocturnal pollinators animals and are characterized by their bright eyes and their ringed pattern tail.The diet of lemur species is variety, includes fruits, herbs, leaves, pollen and nectar .Those that feed on pollen and nectar constitute an important link in the pollination process, and are usually animals that carry pollen on their backs attached to their fur, which help to spread it.

11.Day gecko

The day gecko ( Phelsuma ornata ) is an endemic reptile from the island of Mauritius, located in the South India .The species measures only 12 centimeters and has a coloration that can vary between chestnut, blue and teal in the body, with brown stripes on the flanks and a pattern of blue, white or red.This species of gecko feeds on insects and invertebrates, but also consume pollen and nectar , so they contribute to pollination.

12.Slugs

Slugs are terrestrial mollusks that belong to the Pulmonata order, although slugs do not occupy an important position when pollinating, since they generally feed on plant or animal waste, In addition to the lower parts of the plants, they contribute as indirect pollinators by crawling on the flowers, thereby releasing the pollen and transporting it to other places.

13.Curacao Muzzle Muzzle

The snout bat ( Leptonycteris curasoae ) is a bat that is distributed in the caves and forests of Colombia, Venezuela and Aruba .It feeds on the fruits, nectar and pollen of different species, so it is a nocturnal pollinator animal.In addition to this, it contributes as a seed disperser.

14.Birds of the family Nectariniidae

Commonly called suimangas and araneros, the Nectariniidae family covers 144 species of birds that include the nectar of flowers as a basic element in their diets, although many of them also feed of insects.Species distributed in Africa, Australia and Asia, where they prefer areas with tropical climates.Thanks to their population density and the amount of species that exist, they play an important role for floral pollination.

15.Rat of rice

The rice rat ( Nephelomys devius ) is a species of rodent that is distributed in Costa Rica and Panama.It is little known, but it is known to feed on small mushrooms that grow at the foot of the trees.Although their pollination work is smaller, the search for their food is a way that contributes to spreading spores of pollen accidentally, and either around or transporting them involuntarily in their fur.

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