Pollination Fast Facts condensed from the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign http://www.nappc.org
	What is pollination and who does it? Pollination is a vital stage in the life cycle of all flowering plants.  When pollen is moved within a flower or carried from one flower to another of the same species it leads to fertilization.  This transfer of pollen is necessary for healthy and productive native and agricultural ecosystems.   Pollination, in some cases, by multiple pollinator visits to a single flower, ensures that a plant will produce full-bodied fruit and a full set of fertile seeds.  With no pollination at all, most plants could not produce fruit nor set seed and many of the foods we eat would no longer be available. * About 75% of all flowering plant species need the help of pollinators to move their pollen grains from plant to plant for fertilization * About 1,000 of all pollinators are vertebrates such as birds, bats, and small mammals * Most pollinators (about 200,000 species) are beneficial insects such as flies, beetles, wasps, ants, butterflies, moths, and bees * Bees, both managed honey bees and native bees, are the primary pollinators Why are pollinators important to us? The work of pollinators ensures full harvests of many agricultural crops and contributes to healthy plants everywhere.  Pollinators are often critical to a healthy ecosystem.  Their role has [until now] been largely unnoticed.  As landscapes are converted from wild to managed lands, many pollinators' habitats may be destroyed. * There are an estimated 1,330 crop plants grown worldwide for food, beverages, fibers, condiments, spices, and medicines - about 1,000 of them (75%) require pollination * Approximately one-third of all foods and drinks are results of pollination, directly and indirectly * Insect pollination produces $20 billion worth of products every year in the US alone Crops Dependent on Pollination                Crops Increased by Pollination Fruits and Nuts      Almonds                                                Apples      Apples – most varieties                           Apricots      Apricots – some varieties                         Bushberries      Avocado                                                Blackberries      Cherries                                                 Cranberries      Chestnuts                                               Dewberries      Grapefruit                                              Gooseberries      Lychee Fruit                                           Huckleberries      Oranges                                                 Macadamia Nuts      Peach – some varieties                             Mandarin Oranges      Pear – most varieties                                Mango      Plum                                                      Nectarine      Prune                                                     Passion Fruit      Tangelo                                                  Peach      Tangerine                                                Pear      Tung                                                      Persimmon                                                                   Raspberry                                                                   Strawberry Forage Seed      Alfalfa                                                    Crimson Clover      Alsike      Berseem      Birdsfoot Trefoil      Ladino Clover      Red Clover      Sanfoin      Crownvetch Vegetable Seed      Asparasgus                                              Eggplant      Broccoli                                                  Pepper      Brussels Sprout      Cabbage      Carrot      Cauliflower      Celery      Chinese Cabbage      Collards      Cucumber      Kale      Kohlrabi      Leek      Melon      Mustard      Onion      Parsley      Parsnip      Pumpkin      Radish      Rutabaga      Squash Vegetables      Cucumber      Melon      Pumpkin      Squash Oilseed                                                              Flaxseed                                                              Rape                                                              Safflower Tree Seed      Catalpa      Black Locust      Red Maple      Yellow Poplar      Holly From Hoff & Willett, 1994, 37. How can you help protect pollinators? Pesticide use.  It is important to know that using pesticides affects both the problem insects and the pollinators.  Careless use of pesticides has played a part in the decreasing number of pollinators.   The pesticide you spray to kill insects can also kill humming bird nestlings.  If there are not enough insects to feed on, birds and other creatures that eat the insects can starve to death.  Pollution affects pollinators too.   Planting.  You can plant bird and/or insect-friendly habitats around your home to encourage and support pollinators.  Asters, sunflowers, salvia, bee balm, hyssop, mint, cleome, thyme, poppy, bachelor's buttons, rosemary, lavender, holly, are just some plants to consider. Provide homes.  Install "bat houses" and wood block nests for native bees. Provide water.  Birdbaths, shallow pans of water for butterflies and bees.  Prevent mosquitos by either changing the water every day or so. Just about honey bees - from Beekeeping for Dummies, The Beekeepers Handbook, The Hive and the Honey Bee - Did you know... * Honey bees visit 5 million flowers to make one pint of honey. * Honey bees forage up to five miles away from their hives. * Honey bees fly about 500 miles total in their 5-30 day flight life. * Honey bees can visit 10 flowers a minute and more than 600 before she returns to the hive.  She will make 1-29 trips per day. * A honey bee can carry a load of nectar about the size of a drop from an eyedropper, about 0.5 milliliters, which is about 85% of her body weight. * 150 pounds of honey equals 13 round-trips to the moon! * All the workers n a honey bee hive are female. *