Pollinators Gallery

Ant

Formicidae sp.

Global

Ground pollinator associated with flowers. Ants visit flowers attracted by nectar and sugary exudates on the petals.

Honeybee

Apis mellifera

Global

Essential pollinator responsible for pollinating many of the world's food crops.

New Scientist

Bumblebee

Bombus terrestris

Europe, Asia, North America

Large, fuzzy bees that are excellent pollinators for many wildflowers and crops.

🐦Birds

Perky Pet

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Archilochus colubris

North America

Tiny, fast-flying birds that pollinate tubular flowers with their long beaks. Hummingbirds are important pollinators for many tubular flowers, transferring pollen as they feed on nectar with their long, specialized beaks.

Sunbird

Nectariniidae

Africa, Asia, Australia

Colorful nectar-feeding birds that pollinate many tropical flowers. Sunbirds are important pollinators in tropical and subtropical regions, visiting a wide variety of flowering plants.

🦋Butterflies & Moths

Monarch Butterfly

Danaus plexippus

North America

Famous migratory butterflies that pollinate milkweed and other wildflowers. Monarchs are important pollinators during their long migrations, visiting numerous flowering plants along their route.

Hummingbird Moth

Hemaris spp.

North America, Europe, Asia

Moth species that mimic hummingbirds in appearance and behavior. Hummingbird moths are important pollinators, especially for tubular flowers. They hover like hummingbirds while feeding on nectar.

Swallowtail Butterfly

Papilionidae

Global

Large, colorful butterflies with distinctive tail-like extensions on their wings. Swallowtails are important pollinators for many flowering plants, especially those with deep corollas.

🦇Bats

Lesser Long-nosed Bat

Leptonycteris yerbabuenae

Mexico, Southwestern US

Nocturnal pollinators that feed on nectar and pollinate night-blooming flowers. These bats are crucial pollinators for agave, cacti, and other night-blooming plants in desert ecosystems.

🪲Beetles & Other Pollinators

User Provided

Flower Beetle

Coleoptera sp.

Global

Diverse group of insects that pollinate flowers while feeding on pollen and nectar. Beetles are among the oldest pollinators, visiting flowers to feed on pollen and nectar. They are particularly important for primitive flowering plants.