Biology of Insects and Pollination

Pollination is the process of transfer of pollen grain from the anther to stigma. Angiosperm is the flower producing plant that attracts insects for pollination. Insect pollination not only conserves energy for the plant, but insects may play a part in angiosperm diversity. The zoophilous pollen species have adaptations for pollination by generalist insects (39%), specialized pollen-collecting insects (27%) and other specialized pollinators (10%).

There are different types of pollination depending upon the agent involved in it. Pollination by bird is known as ornithophilous pollination. Chiropterophilous is a type of pollination in which pollination occurs by bats. Entomophilous is a type of pollination in which pollination occurs by insects. Pollination by snail and slug is known as malacophilous pollination. 

Chiropterophily is pollination of plants by bats. Bat pollination of most common in tropical and desert areas that have many night blooming flowers. Just like bees and birds that pollinate, nectar consuming bats have evolved ways to find and harvest the nectar. Nectar bats have long tongues and can hover like hummingbirds. In turn, the flowers attract bats with their light-coloured petals, large bolossoms, fruity aromas and plentiful nectar.

Kigelia pinnate is a species belonging to the family Bignoniaceae. It is found in tropical Africa. This is an evergreen tree with pinnate leaves and long drooping inflorescence. It produces bell-shaped flowers in panicles and has a strong scent which is most notable at night. The strong smell attracts the bat which comes for pollen and nectar and thus these are generally pollinated by bats. 

Pollination is the transferring of pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma. Pollination by the agency of ants is called myrmecophily. Pollination by bats, insects and birds are called cleiropterophily, entomophily and ornithophily respectively. 

Bees are the most effective pollinators which spent most of their lifetime in collecting pollen to feed their offsprings. At least 30%of 1,500 crop plant species depend on pollination by bees.

Ornithophily is a type of pollination that takes place in flowering plant by birds. The birds with long beaks like hummingbird show this type of pollination. The plants, which undergo ornithophily are usually bright coloured and unscented.

Pollination is the transfer of pollens from the male anther to the female stigma. It is carried out by the help of animals, birds, insects, water and wind. Pollination carried out by bats is called chiropterophily. The pollination carried out by the birds is called ornithophily. The pollination carried out by snails is called malacophily. The pollination carried out by insects is called entomophily.

Pollination by agency of insects is known as entomophily or insect pollination. Bees, butterflies, moths and beetles are main pollinating insects. Insect pollinated flowers are large, conspicuous, bright coloured and have pleasant smell. They have nectarines on receptacles or on spurs at the base of flower whorls and produce nectar to attract insects. Option A is incorrect. Pollination by agency of birds is known as ornithophily. The common pollinating birds are squirrels, bats, snails etc. the bird pollinated flowers are colourful, mostly red, produce lots of nectar and also exhibit adaptations to protect nectar from insects. Option C is incorrect. Pollination by bats is known as chiropterophily. The plants produce large, bell shaped and attractive flowers that open at night and produce strong odours and nectar. Option D is incorrect. Pollination by snails and slug is called as malacophily. These flowers have long blooming period to facilitate access of pollen to snails. 

Myrmecophily refers to the symbiotic relationship between plants and ants, specifically including pollination by ants.

Malacophily is the term used to describe pollination by mollusks, such as snails and slugs.