Biology · Environmental Studies

Biology of Insects and Pollination

830 Questions

Insect biology and pollination focus on ecological relationships, crop science, and practical applications like apiculture. These topics regularly appear in general science sections of competitive exams. Review core concepts to build accuracy for test day.

Apiculture and honeyTypes of pollinationInsect binomial nomenclatureCrop damaging pestsFriend of farmers organism

Biology of Insects and Pollination Questions

Multiple choice

Which of the following are called social insects?

  1. Butterflies

  2. Cockroaches

  3. Bees

  4. Houseflies
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Social insects are insects that live together in organized communities with a division of labor among different members. Bees (especially honey bees and bumble bees) are classic examples of eusocial insects, with queens, workers, and drones each performing specific roles. Butterflies, cockroaches, and houseflies are solitary insects and don't exhibit social behavior.

Multiple choice

Insects sit on the flower of a plant and suck nectar from it. In return, they perform pollination for the plants. Which of the following statements is/are correct for pollination?

  1. In this process, pollen is transferred from male flower to female flower.
  2. Pollination is not performed by phytoplanktons.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only (2)

  3. Both (1) and (2)

  4. Neither of them
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Statement (1) is correct. Pollination is the transfer of pollen from male flower to female flower. Statement (2) is wrong. Aquatic plants also show pollination. The male flowers release pollen into water which reaches the female plant by water current. This is one of the types of pollination named hydrophilly.

Multiple choice
Directions: The following question consists of certain statements. You have to select the option representing the most logical sequencing of the given statements.
A. Flowers have attractive colours.
B. Colours of flowers attract insects.
C. Insects pollinate the flowers.
D. Flowers have pollen.
E. Colour of flower helps in pollination. F. Pollination is done by insects.

  1. ABC

  2. BCE

  3. AEF

  4. DEF
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Option (2), BCE B à Colours of flowers attract insects. C à Insects pollinate the flowers From B and C, we can infer that colours of flowers help to attract insects which in turn pollinate the flowers, thereby, colours help in pollination. This idea is expressed in statement E. Therefore, option (2) is correct answer.

Multiple choice

How is Bombyx mori related to the Mulberry silk moth?

  1. Bombyx mori is the scientific name of the larvae of the Mulberry silk moth.

  2. Bombyx mori is the scientific name of cocoon of the Mulberry silk moth.

  3. Bombyx mori is the scientific name of the pupa of the Mulberry silk moth.

  4. Bombyx mori is the scientific name of adult Mulberry silk moth.

  5. Bombyx mori is the scientific name of the egg of the Mulberry silk moth.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Bombyx mori is the scientific name of adult Mulberry silk moth.

Multiple choice

'Antheraea mylitta' is the scientific term of ________.

  1. adult of the Tassar silk moth

  2. egg of Tassar silk moth

  3. larvae of Tassar silk moth

  4. pupa of Tassar silk moth

  5. cocoon of Tassar silk moth
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

'Antheraea mylitta' is the scientific term of the adult of the Tassar silk moth.

Multiple choice

How does an ant recognise the ants of its own group?

  1. By seeing them

  2. By their smell

  3. By hearing their voice

  4. By touching them
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

An ant recognises its group members by their smell. It is found that when ants move they leave a smell on the ground.

Multiple choice

Choose the odd one.

  1. Ant

  2. Mosquito

  3. Silk worm

  4. Eagle
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Eagle is a bird with strong eye sight and ants, mosquitoes and silk worms are insects with strong sense of smell.

Multiple choice

How do the mosquitoes know where you are?

  1. By seeing you

  2. By hearing you

  3. By the smell of your body

  4. By the smell as well as the heat of your body
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

They can find you by the smell of your body as well as the heat of your body.

Multiple choice

Which mode of nutrition is found in houseflies?

  1. Autotrophic

  2. Saprophytic

  3. Holozoic

  4. Parasitism

  5. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Insects like houseflies secrete digestive juices on the food. The food is digested while it is still to be ingested.

Multiple choice

How do African ants navigate in the bare desert landscape without landmarks?

  1. They memorise their landscape

  2. They use polarization of light to form a compass

  3. They use pheromone trails

  4. They dance to indicate direction and distance of food from the colony
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Saharan desert ants (Cataglyphis) navigate using the polarization patterns of sunlight, which remain stable even when the sun is obscured. They do not rely on landmarks (absent in desert), pheromone trails (ineffective in shifting sands), or dance communication (unique to honeybees).

Multiple choice

Which of the following animals resemble a group of poisonous mullerian mimicry?

  1. Bees

  2. Wasps

  3. Hornets

  4. All of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Müllerian mimicry occurs when multiple harmful or unpalatable species evolve similar appearances to reinforce predator avoidance. Bees, wasps, and hornets all share similar black and yellow coloration patterns that warn predators of their stinging ability. This is distinct from Batesian mimicry where a harmless species imitates a harmful one.