[Pollinator] NPW - MN - Did you know? Most bees don’t sting

[ladadams at aol.com]

>From the Star News, Elk River MN

Did you know? Most bees don’t sting
Friday, 26 June 2009
Pollination occurs when pollen grains are moved between two flowers of 
the same species, or within a single flower, by wind or animals that 
are pollinators.

Successful pollination, which may require visits by multiple 
pollinators to a single flower, results in healthy fruit and fertile 
seeds, allowing plants to reproduce. Without pollinators, we simply 
wouldn’t have many crops!

Every third bite of food you eat is the result of a living pollinator.

   Insect-pollinated crops directly contribute $20 billion to the U.S. 
economy each year!

   Seventy-five percent of all plant species need the help of insect and 
animal pollinators.


Pollinator populations are in decline due to disease and loss of 
habitat.

Worldwide, approximately 1,000 plants grown for food, beverages, 
fibers, spices and medicines need to be pollinated by animals in order 
to produce the goods on which we depend.

Foods and beverages produced with the help of pollinators include 
blueberries, chocolate, coffee, melons, peaches, pumpkins, vanilla and 
almonds.

Plants that depend on a single pollinator species, and likewise, 
pollinators that depend on a single type of plant for food are 
interdependent. If one disappears, so will the other.

   Most species of bees don’t sting. Although all female bees are 
physical
ly capable of stinging, most bee species native to the United 
States are “solitary bees,” that is, not living in colonies and don’t 
sting unless they are physically threatened or injured. Only honey bees 
are defensive and may chase someone who disturbs their hive.

A tiny fly (a “midge”) no bigger than a pinhead is responsible for the 
world’s supply of chocolate!




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