Entomophily

• The pollination which takes place with the help of insects is known as entomophily. Most of insect pollination (80%) occurs only by honey bees.
• Favourable colour of honey bees is yellow, but they are blind to red colour.
• Majority of insect pollinated flowers are large, colourful, fragrant and rich in nectar, when the flowers are small, a number of flowers are clustered into an inflorescence to make them conspicuous.
• Night blooming plants are pollinated by moths. They are highly scented. Their flowers are generally white coloured.
• The flowers pollinated by flies and beetles secrete foul odour to attract these animals.
• The pollen grains of insect pollinated flowers become sticky due to presence of pollen kit.
• Most of entomophilous plants are ornamental plants. Ornamental plants utilize their maximum energy in this pollination and develop different types of adaptation for attraction of insects. Their flowers are attractive. Animals are attracted to flowers by colour and/or fragrance. e.g. Cucumber, Mango, Peepal, Coriander, Papaya, Onion, Lobia, Cotton, Tobacco, Rose, Lemon, Eucalyptus, Banana.
• Some of the following plants have developed special adaptation, for insect pollination.
• Yucca plant develops symbiotic relationship with a species of moth, Pronuba yuccasela moth (Tegeticula moth). The pollination in "Yucca takes place only by Pronuba female moth. This insect lays eggs in the locule of the ovary of flower. The larvae of moth come out of the eggs as the seeds start developing. Life cycle of both depends on each other. Moth and the Yucca plant can not complete their life cycles without each other.
• In tallest flower of Amorphophallus (the flower itself is about 6 feet in height), process of pollination is same as Yucca means it provides space (safe place) for laying eggs.Floral rewards : To sustain animals visits, the flowers have to provide rewards to the animals. Nectar and pollen grains are usual floral rewards. In some species floral rewards are in providing safe places to lay eggs. e.g. Yucca, Amorphophallus.
• Pollen / Nectar robbers : Many insects may consume pollen or the nectar without bringing about pollination, such floral visitors are referred to as pollen / nectar robbers.
• Orchid Ophrys flower is pollinated by wasp [Colpa aurea] by means of pseudo copulation. The appearance and odour of the flower is like female wasp [Mimicry].
• Nymphaea (water lily), water hyacinth, Nelumbo or Nelumbium (lotus), Alisma are also entomophilous plants while they are hydrophytes.
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