What are Pollinators?
When you think about the word pollinator, bees are probably the first things that pop into your head. Bees are a very important pollinator but did you know that there are actually a lot of different animals that also pollinate plants? Butterflies, moths, bats, birds, and lots of other insects can all be pollinators too! But what exactly does a pollinator do? A pollinator is an animal that moves pollen (that dusty yellow stuff you often see on flowers) from one flower to another flower. This is how seeds form and this allows plants to reproduce. The reason pollinators visit flowers though is because they produce a sweet sticky liquid called nectar that the pollinators eat. If pollinators didn’t do this then plants wouldn’t be able to grow and spread. Do you like strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries? Well, they only grow because of pollinators. Without pollinators, some of the sweet tasting fruits you love so much wouldn’t be able to grow and you wouldn’t be able to eat them anymore. Whether bees, butterflies, moths, bats, or birds, pollinators are not only important for flowers, but also to other plants and humans! Without pollinator species, humans would not have crops, or agricultural products and food. We also wouldn’t see beautiful flowers begin to bloom every spring.
Sadly, there are a lot of threats and dangers to pollinators that are starting to make them disappear. These threats include habitat loss and the introduction of non-native plant and animal species. When towns and cities grow, the fields and open spaces where the plants pollinators need to survive are destroyed. Also, agricultural fields where things like corn and wheat are grown also destroy the native plant habitat for the pollinators. We all have to play a part in conserving pollinators. One way to do that is by planting native pollinator plant gardens at your home so that pollinators have the flowers they need to pollinate and survive from. Also, if bees ever make a nest at your home, don’t kill them, instead call a bee removal company that can collect the bees and put them somewhere else without hurting them. And lastly, teaching others about pollinators and how to protect them can help save them!
In the lesson content below, you will learn more about pollinators, what they do, and ways you can protect them. You will also get to define some very important terms, create a field journal, and then participate in a fun activity! By the end of the lesson you should have lots of knowledge to answer the question above!
Vocabulary
Nectar
A sweet, thick, watery fluid that contains not only sugar, but also small amounts of things such as proteins and salts. It is released by the flower through its special glands called nectaries, which can be found in the leaves, stems, and blossoms of the flower. Nectar is the primary fuel for pollinator species like bees or butterflies..
Pollinator
A specific type of animal species that moves pollen from the male flower to a female flower. Usually, pollinators visit these flowers in search of food from the nectar.
Climate Change
When the weather conditions in an area that have been recorded for a long period begin to change, especially at a high or unnatural speed. Climate change has been known to be a form of “environmental disturbance” or event that changes the state of the land and the things on it.
Biodiversity
Also known as species diversity, biodiversity means that there are many types of species, not just one! With pollinators and flowering plants, it is important to have diversity so that different types of flowering plants get pollinated by the right type of pollinators.
Pollen
When pollen from the male flower reaches a female flower, it allows the female flower to reproduce. New flowers are able to make seeds and fruits, which make up a large part of our food and agriculture.
Pollination
When pollen from the male flower reaches a female flower, this allows the female flower to make a baby flower or plant. Later this flower might be able to make things like seeds and fruits, which make up a large part of our food and agriculture.
Proboscis
The proboscis is a body part that is almost like if you combined your nose and tongue into a feeding tube. This is how species like moths and butterflies are able to slurp up nectar from flowers, especially ones that are long and narrow. Every pollinator has its own proboscis to match either a single type of flower, or multiple types of flowers.
Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem services are known as the beneficial work that a specific species provides to an ecosystem and/or other species. Besides pollination, there are different types of services that pollinators provide for humans and other species, such as producing honey!
Focus Questions
What is a pollinator species?
Why are pollinator species essential?
Lesson Content
Go to http://fieldguide.mt.gov/ for a full field guide of Montana specific wildlife, insects, plants, invasive species and more!
Flowers and Pollinators
In these lessons, learn about how animals pollinate, which animals are pollinators, as well as which ones get mistaken for pollinators. What are some pollinator species you already know?
Best for grades K-5
Best for grades 5-8
Types of Pollinators
In these lessons, learn about how animals pollinate, which animals are pollinators, as well as which ones get mistaken for pollinators. What are some pollinator species you already know?
Best for grades 3-8
Pollinators and Food
In these lessons, learn about why bees as a pollinator species are so important to not only plants, but to humans as well. What things do bees do for flowers, plants, the environment, humans? How can we help pollinators?
Best for grades K-2
Best for grades K-5
Best for grades 3-8
What Happens if Bees Disappear
In this lesson, learn about why pollinator species are so important and what would happen if they disappear. What are some things that you can do to help pollinators?
Best for grades 3-8
Activities
1. Join the Great Sunflower Project.
This is a citizen science data base that counts pollinators. Started in 2008 as a way to identify where pollinators are doing well and where they are not. We also aim to give people like you the tools to learn about what is happening with the pollinators in the places they care about. While we love to get data from our namesake species, Lemon Queen Sunflowers, you can participate by watching any plant.
2. Making Butterflies and Flowers
Materials:
Washable markers
Cup for water (fill about half way)
Coffee Filters (2 for butterflies, 1 for flowers)
Pipe cleaners (to tie butterflies together, or used to hang butterflies or flowers)
Instructions:
1. Lay out newspaper, tablecloth, etc. out on a table to set aside drying coffee filters
2. Fill a cup of water about half-way full of water
3. Lay out coffee filters so that they are as close to flat as possible
4. Take a marker or multiple markers and draw a circle in the center and/or other parts of the coffee filter (to make a cool effect!)
5. For making either butterflies and flowers, Fold the coffee filter into eight slices
6. Dip the coffee filter into the cup of water (before inserting the filter into the water, ask what you/ they think will happen?)
7. Let it sit in the water (anywhere from 10 to 30 seconds)
8. Take out and unfold out on a table to let it dry, or take them outside and let them dry in the sun
9. Once the coffee filters are dry: *For flowers you can keep them as they are and tape them to the inside of windows, or use pipe cleaners to hang them up, by punching a hole in the flower and hanging it with a pipe cleaner. *For butterflies you can take two of your coffee filters, and fold each one back and forth, accordion style, in about 1/2″ folds. (Just make sure the coffee filters are completely dry first or you’ll end up with messy fingers!).
10. Stack the two folded coffee filters on top of one another. Twist a pipe cleaner around the middle so that the two ends point upwards in a big letter “V”. Trim the ends to make them even if you need to. Also add another pipe cleaner to use to hang the butterfly
11. Enjoy your coffee filter art creations! Hang them around the house or classroom!
3. Wildflower and other Plant Coloring Sheets
Field Journal Prompts
Write a few sentences and/or draw a picture to show how much you learned!
1. Draw and label a proboscis. What does this body part do?
2. Why is pollination important?
3. How can we help pollinator species?
4. Which species are pollinators? Which species are not pollinators?
5. What do you look for when identifying a pollinator?
6. What type of relationship do pollinators have with flowers?