Pollinators and Perennials

What defines a pollinator? A pollinator refers to any entity facilitating the transfer of pollen from a flower’s male reproductive organ (stamen) to its female counterpart (stigma), either within the same flower or among different flowers. This pollen transfer is essential for fertilization, resulting in the creation of fruits, seeds, and new plants. While certain plants can self-pollinate or rely on wind or water for pollination, others rely on insects and animals like bees, wasps, moths, butterflies, birds, flies, and small mammals such as bats.

Insects, along with bats, beetles, and flies, are attracted to flowers in search of food, shelter, nesting materials, and occasionally mates. Some pollinators, like many bee species, actively collect pollen, while others, like numerous butterflies, birds, and bats, inadvertently transport pollen as they consume nectar from flower blossoms. This unintentional pollen transfer occurs when pollen sticks to their bodies while they feed, leading to subsequent pollination as they move between flowers.