The Manitoba Museum – Prairie Pollination
Few people notice insects unless they are getting bitten by one. But the activities of many of these little animals are actually very important to people. Scientists estimate that one in every three bites of food depends on a pollinator. Worldwide about 80% of all flowering plants need animal pollinators. Here in the Canadian prairies bees, flies, butterflies, moths and beetles are the most common pollinators. These insects carry hundreds of pollen grains from flower to flower every day as they search for food. Each tiny pollen grain contains the genetic information to create a new plant. This process ensures the survival of the next generation of plants. Without pollinators most of the world’s plants, including many crop plants, would go extinct.