Resources

Pollinators

Below is a broad overview of some of the major different types of pollinators. By no means is this an exhaustive list - there are over 200,000 pollinators in the world! Please check out more detailed information from scientific, cited sources like Pollinator Partnership and the Xerces Society to get you started.

Insect Pollination

(Entomophily)
  • Bees

    Honey bees are probably the first insect that comes to mind when you hear “pollinator,” and with good reason - they are responsible for pollinating one out of every three bites of food we eat! But they don’t work alone. There are thousands of other types of bees responsible for pollinating a variety of plants and flowers, including everyone’s favorite flying teddy bear: bumble bees. Some solitary bees that pollinate are mason bees, mining bees, carpenter bees, orchard bees, and squash bees, among others.

    A bumble bee gathering pollen on a vibrant sunflower.

    Bumble Bee

    A black two-spotted longhorn bee with yellow pollen on its legs collecting nectar from a vibrant pink and yellow flower.

    Two-Spotted Longhorn Bee

    A globe mallow bee collecting nectar from a pale yellow flower.

    Globe Mallow Bee

    A green iridescent sweat bee gathers nectar on a fluffy purple flower.

    Metallic Green Sweat Bee

  • Butterflies & Moths

    An important subset of pollinators are butterflies and moths. Their longer proboscis allows them to sip from tubular flowers with deeper nectaries that bees can’t reach. They move pollen from flower to flower as a side effect of gathering nectar. Win-win!

    A close-up of a painted lady butterfly with brown and orange markings, perched on vibrant purple flowers.

    Painted Lady Butterfly

    A vivid black and blue butterfly with white spots rests on a human hand against a backdrop of blurred green foliage.

    Black Swallowtail Butterfly

    A snowberry clearwing moth resting on a green leaf.

    Snowberry Clearwing Moth

  • Beetles, Wasps, Flies

    There are many other pollinating insects that are just as important, but don’t have as great a media presence or campaign - like beetles, wasps, and flies. Beetles have been around for millions of years, pollinating along the way. Wasps inadvertently pollinate in their search for nectar (and are beneficial in gardens as pest control, too). Midge flies are needed to pollinate cocoa - think of that the next time you enjoy a treat.

Bird Pollination

(Ornithophily)
Hummingbirds are the most common avian pollinator in North America. Like butterflies and moths, they are in search of nectar from flowers and pollinate as they go. Orioles also pollinate.

Bat Pollination

(Chiropterophily)

Bats at Dusk

There are 13 species of bats in Illinois, though none here are pollinators. One of my favorite things to do at dusk in the summer is to look up and watch them swoop through the sky looking for mosquitos! A strategically-placed bat house can invite them in to roost in your yard. In Illinois, check out the IL Department of Natural Resources for additional info; worldwide, Bat Conservation International is a great resource.

Wind & Water Pollination

(Anemophily & Hydrophily)
Split image comparing two plants: on the left, yellow goldenrod which is good for bees, and on the right, ragweed which causes allergies, each labeled respectively.

Wind is the main form of pollination for most trees and plants. Unfortunately, it’s the root of most folks’ seasonal allergies! The tiny grains of pollen that are light enough to be dispersed via wind will fly right into your nose. Less common is pollination via water, either on the surface or submerged.