Specimen of the Month: Pollinator Power!

Northern springs arrive as a great relief after many consistent months of crisp air sandwiched between rock-hard ground and skies of monochromatic gray. New energy takes hold. Early wildflower blooms promptly begin to unfurl across the forest floor during the short period of readily available sunlight yet unobstructed by fast approaching canopy cover. Insects too begin to fill the scene--many working in harmony with flowering plants. Foraging for much-needed nutrients among the new blooms, these diverse pollinators are a welcomed addition to the landscape. 

A blue bottle fly will collect pollen on its hairy body whilst foraging.

It might be difficult to picture how a moth, wasp, or fly acts as a pollinator when they often maneuver blooms too quickly for a close observation. The same goes for hummingbirds, bees, beetles, and butterflies. Insects or birds such as these contribute to the much-anticipated oceans of trillium, speckles of spring beauties, and brilliant growths of columbines--among many others. They accomplish this due to minute physical adaptation--some which can readily be interpreted through the lens of a museum. 

I pulled out the cumbersome bin of electronic equipment from my shelf. It contained a boxed digital microscope that I use often enough to keep it stored nearby but not so much that I keep it out for ready use. The time it takes to wrangle cords and tighten together parts is worth it though. Also in my office, a number of small, pinned specimens wait to be added to a pollinator display but before they're positioned, I wanted to take a few close-up photos of hairs, legs, and proboscises.

The proboscis (an elongated mouthpart for sucking) of
a great spangled fritillary butterfly is shown rolled up in black.

Most of our insect pollinators utilize a proboscis for retrieving nectar from difficult to reach places within a flower. Perhaps most recognizable are the long proboscises of butterflies and moths. Other insects have these as well, such as a bee fly who exhibits this tubular sucking mechanism and uses it to feed on nectar from a variety of flowers. 

A greater bee fly is a bee mimic that is generally active
April through June and forages on early blooms like spring beauties.

Specialized hairs, particularly found on bees, are designed to purposefully help them acquire pollen. Thus, the act of pollination is both beneficial to the pollinator and the plant being pollinated. For example, most bee species consume pollen as they visit flowers or collect it to eat later and provision their larvae. Living with overtly hairy legs just makes sense in a bee's life, whereas butterflies and moths only pollinate as an incidental act while they forage for nectar.

A hairy mining (Adrenid) bee is full of hairs upon which pollen collects.

I spent a good half hour marveling at the innate beauty of our various pollinator specimens. The microscope allowed me a better view of what I only wish I had the physical ability to witness in nature, but I knew that there will still be much to observe with active pollinators. We are on the cusp of a period characterized by sunny landscapes--populated by a menagerie of spring ephemeral blooms, new plant growth, and new life all around. Most present in my mind, though, will be skillful pollinators. 

A bumble bee, with pollen basket full, forages
on summer blooms of anise hyssop.