• I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    2 months ago

    Arent those conflicting statements? How can they be taking up all the pollen AND be worse pollinators?

    • Podicipedidae@mander.xyz
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      2 months ago

      They are not conflicting but I can see how you might think that. Pollen is plant sperm. In order for pollination to occur many plants have special needs. The pollen has to be “picked up” and transferred to the female stigma. One example of how honeybees take nectar but don’t pollinate flowers are flowers that require “buzz pollinating”.

      Hope that clears things up. Happy to answer anymore questions (I am just someone who is passionate about nature I’m not a professional or anything).

    • reinei@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      2 months ago

      Just because you waste 80% of the food you get doesn’t mean you can’t still be twice as fast as everyone else at getting new food!

        • angrystego@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          2 months ago

          They often don’t. Honey bees are surprisingly good at collecting pollen of many plant species without transfering it to other flowers and pollinating them.