The role of a bumblebee

According to Xerces Society, bumblebees pollinate wild flowering plants and crops. They do not depend on one flower type to survive. But it is not that way with some plants. Some rare plants that depend on bumblebees are native monkshoods and lady’s tresses orchids. Bumblebees are the only known pollinator of the potato worldwide.

Other flowers the bumblebee pollinates are snapdragons, mints, orchid and peas. According to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, flowers pollinated by the bumblebee must have a sturdy lip, apron or heel for a landing pad. When the bumblebee lands on the monkshood, it opens the flower. The petals pop open, and it clambers over the male and female parts, collecting pollen on its feet while reaching with its head to the nectaries in the hood of the monkshood. Once it flies to the next monkshood, seeds are pollinated, and the species is ensured continuation.

 What would the world look like without bumblebees as pollinators? There would be several plants missing from the world. However, there is some recent research according to www.inverse.com in an article called “Bumblebees Have Learned to Hack Plants” by Nina Pullano. Pullano refers to the hacking of plants as bumblebees nibbling on the leaves that are not producing flowers. This may damage the plant but stimulates faster flower growth. Plants not in flower can bloom up to a month earlier.

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