Butterflies are predominantly nectar feeders, but they do not accomplish much in the way of pollination. (Monarch shown feeding on lantana flowers.) Photo by Charlie Morey
When you think of pollinators, European honeybees probably come to mind. Because they live in colonies and are social, like people, humans were able to domesticate them. Today, beekeepers know how to use a special substance produced by the bees called royal jelly to create new queen bees and thus new colonies. Domesticated European honeybee colonies are transported around the country to pollinate big commercial crops of mostly European plants.
Valley carpenter bees are enormous, but very docile. Females are all black; males are a stunning golden brown. Males have no stingers and produce a rose-scented substance from a gland on their chests—it is used to attract females during mating season. (Female carpenter bee on cochal cactus; male on passion flower.) Photos by Sandy Masuo and Andrew Lyell
Most butterfly larvae (caterpillars) are host-specific, meaning they will feed only on plants of a particular family. Monarch caterpillars feed only on milkweeds, gulf fritillaries feed only on plants in the passionflower family, etc. (Monarch caterpillar shown feeding on native California narrow-leaf milkweed.) Photo by Robert McMillan
Weekends March 23 through April 28 plus Friday, April 19
Celebrate all things spring— birds, bees, butterflies, regrowth, and greener living through a sustainable lifestyle. Learn what you can do to help the environment and wildlife conservation while enjoying special entertainment, workshops, crafts, and more. We'll be spotlighting pollinators and the important role they play in ecosystems everywhere.
Learn More >