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 biology pollination and fertilization agents of pollination environmental conservation and biodiversity pollination, fertilization and development of endosperm and embryo

Pollination in Vallisneria is by

  1. Wind

  2. Animals

  3. Insects

  4. Water

  5. Wind and insects

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Vallisnaria is the genus of aquatic plant. In this plant, pollination is done by pollinating agent i.e., water. Female flowers have long stalk and appears on the surface of the water. When the male flower releases pollen grain it reaches to the stigma of female flower through water current.

Multiple choice biology pollination and fertilization agents of pollination environmental conservation and biodiversity pollination, fertilization and development of endosperm and embryo

Maize is 

  1. Self pollinated

  2. Cross pollinated by rain

  3. Cross pollinated by insects

  4. Cross pollinated by wind

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Corss pollination is when pollen from one plant pollinates flowers on a different plant. With maize, cross-pollination is preferred because it is a monoecious crop with male and female flowers in separate parts of the same plant. So, male part produces a large number of pollen grains, which are then distributed by wind to other female parts of another maize plants.
Thus, the correct answer is option (D), 'Cross pollinated by wind'.

Multiple choice biology pollination and fertilization agents of pollination environmental conservation and biodiversity pollination, fertilization and development of endosperm and embryo

The chief pollinators of our agri horticultural crops are .....................

  1. Moths

  2. Bees

  3. Beetles

  4. Butterflies

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The most recognized pollinators are the various species of bees, which are plainly adapted to pollination. Bees typically are fuzzy and carry an electrostatic charge. Both featured help pollen grains adhere to their bodies, but they also have specialized pollen carrying structures; in most bees , this takes the form of a structure known as the scopa, which is on the hind legs of most bees, and the lower abdomen, made up of thick, plumose setae, honey bees, bumble bees and their relatives do not have a scopa, but the hind leg is modified into a structure called as corbicula. Most bees gather nectar, a concentrated energy source and pollen, which is high protein food, to nurture their young and inadvertently transfer some among the flowers as they are working.

Multiple choice biology pollination and fertilization agents of pollination environmental conservation and biodiversity pollination, fertilization and development of endosperm and embryo

Insect pollinated flowers usually possess

  1. Sticky pollens with rough surface

  2. Large quantities of pollens

  3. Brightly coloured pollens

  4. Dry pollens with smooth surface

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Insect-pollinated flowers usually possess sticky and heavy pollens with a rough surface that allow them to stick to insects easily. Flowers also have sweet nectar that attracts insects that go from flower to flower to pollinate the flowers. The pollen grains are also in small quantities, because it is very likely that insects will enter another flower, and the pollen grains would have a higher chance of landing on the stigma. That's why there is no need of pollen grains in large quantities. 



Multiple choice biology pollination and fertilization agents of pollination environmental conservation and biodiversity pollination, fertilization and development of endosperm and embryo

Entomophily is pollination by

  1. Water

  2. Animals

  3. Air

  4. Insects

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

  • Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male anther to the female stigma. It is carried out with the help of animals, birds, insects, water, wind, etc. 
  • The pollination carried out by insects is called entomophily. 
  • Pollination carried out by water is called hydrophily. Pollination carried out by the wind is called anemophily.
  •  Pollination carried out by the animals is called zoophily. 

So, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice biology pollination and fertilization agents of pollination environmental conservation and biodiversity pollination, fertilization and development of endosperm and embryo

Flowers which are pollinated by insects are

  1. Colourless

  2. Small in size

  3. Large, coloured and scented

  4. Very large in size

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
  • Insect-pollinated flowers have large, bright, scented and colourful petals so that insects would be attracted to the flower. 
  • Also, they have nectar near the receptacle on the interior of the flower. So, the insects will enter the flower and can aid in pollination where the pollen grains from the anther in the flower gets scraped onto the insect to be transferred to the stigma of another flower. This form of pollination is known as Entomophily

So, the correct answer is 'Large, coloured and scented'
Multiple choice biology pollination and fertilization agents of pollination environmental conservation and biodiversity pollination, fertilization and development of endosperm and embryo

The insect Blastophaga grossorum is associated  with the pollination of 

  1. Mango

  2. Ficus

  3. Paddy

  4. Nelumbium

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Blastophaga grossorum is a wasp that specifically pollinates Ficus species. They exhibit a co-evolutional relationship existing for millions of years now. Blastophaga locates the ficus plant using its olfactory senses. This is an example of fig-wasp mutualism.
So, the correct answer is, 'Ficus'.
Multiple choice biology pollination and fertilization agents of pollination environmental conservation and biodiversity pollination, fertilization and development of endosperm and embryo

In Salvia, the pollination is affected by

  1. Water

  2. Air

  3. Animals

  4. Insects

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

  • The pollination mechanism in Salvia is a unique lever type. The flowers in this genus are arranged in thyrsus inflorescence and they are attractive and well adapted for cross-pollination through the agency of insects. 
  • In this lever mechanism of pollination, the Corolla has a spreading upper lip, which acts as a landing place for the insect. When the insects land on the lower lip of the corolla and in its endeavor to obtain nectar that is secreted by the hypogynous disc, pushes the sterile lobes of the stamen inwards.
  •  Due to this the upper half of the connective with the fertile lobes acts as a lever. Then the anther lobe comes down and shed the pollen on the back of the insect.

 So, option D is correct.

Multiple choice biology pollination and fertilization agents of pollination environmental conservation and biodiversity pollination, fertilization and development of endosperm and embryo

Flowers, which are pollinated by insects, are

  1. Colourless

  2. Small in size

  3. Large, coloured and scented

  4. Sticky

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
Insects visit flowers that are open during the day. They are large, brightly coloured and have a strong scent. They have a tubular shape and a nectar guide. A nectar guide is regions on petals that are visible only to bees. This portion guides the bees to the centre of the flower helping in pollination. Thus the correct answer is option C.
Multiple choice biology pollination and fertilization agents of pollination environmental conservation and biodiversity pollination, fertilization and development of endosperm and embryo

In Ficus religiosa (peepal), the pollination is affected by

  1. Water

  2. Insects

  3. Birds

  4. Air

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
  • Blastophaga quadriceps, the legitimate pollinator of Ficus religiosa, possesses two thoracic pockets in which pollen is stored for subsequent introduction into the young figs.  
  • Pocket loading takes place in the nearly ripe fig at the male phase. Impregnated female wasps leave the fig via narrow channels bored by the males. 
  • Upon entering young receptive figs, the female wasps begin oviposition, during which pocket emptying and pollination takes place.
Multiple choice biology pollination and fertilization agents of pollination environmental conservation and biodiversity pollination, fertilization and development of endosperm and embryo

Which of the following structure/arrangement favours entamophily the most?

  1. Pollen grains with wings and feathery stigma

  2. Colourful petals and nectar secretion

  3. A bunch of flowers with less pollen

  4. Pollen grains with mucous covering

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Pollination through insect is called as entamophily in which insect is attracted by nectar secreted by flower and colorful petals.

So the correct option is 'Colourful petals and nectar secretion.'

Multiple choice biology pollination and fertilization agents of pollination environmental conservation and biodiversity pollination, fertilization and development of endosperm and embryo

An insect helping in pollination is

  1. Drosophila

  2. Musco nebulo

  3. Bombyx mori

  4. Apis dorsata

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
Most of the major crops heavily depend on the pollination through the giant honey bee, Apis dorsata. Some of the crops are cotton, mango, coconut, coffee, pepper, star fruit, and macadamia.
So the correct option is Apis dorsata.
Multiple choice biology pollination and fertilization agents of pollination environmental conservation and biodiversity pollination, fertilization and development of endosperm and embryo

The nectar is produced in the flowers which are pollinated by 

  1. Wind

  2. Water

  3. Man

  4. Insects

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Many flowers produce nectar. When an insect lands on a flower to feed, pollen grains stick to its body. As the insect moves to another flower of the same species, these pollen grains are transferred to the flower’s stigma and pollination occurs.

So the correct option is 'Insects'.

Multiple choice biology pollination and fertilization agents of pollination environmental conservation and biodiversity pollination, fertilization and development of endosperm and embryo

Some plants harbour ants to save themselves from other animals. It is

  1. Anemophily

  2. Entomophily

  3. Myrmecophily

  4. Hydrophily

  5. Zoophily

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Anemophily is a type of pollination in which pollination takes place with the help of wind. Entomophily is a type of pollination in which pollination takes place through insect. Myrmecophily is a mutual association of some plants with ants to save themselves from other animals. Hydrophily is a type of pollination in which pollination occurs through flow of water. 

Thus, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice biology pollination and fertilization agents of pollination environmental conservation and biodiversity pollination, fertilization and development of endosperm and embryo

Moth Pronuba($=$ Tegaticula) passes its larval stage in plant pollinated by it. The plant is?

  1. Ficus cairica

  2. Yucca

  3. Tagetes

  4. Cosmos

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Yucca moth is also termed as the Pronuba moth. It is a small white moth that lives in the semi-arid habitats where Yucca plants grow. The Yucca moth is well-known for its relationship with the Yucca plant. The Yucca moth’s larvae are relying on the seeds of the Yucca plant as a primary food source. No one can exist without the other, creating an obligate mutualism between the moth and the plant. It is true for types of Yucca moths such as Tegeticula .


 So correct answer is option B.