The Power of Pollinators

Pollinators are insects or animals that help plants create fruits and seeds. All fruit comes from flowers and all flowers have pollen. Pollen is the colorful dust in the middle of a flower that carries the recipe for what its baby plants will become. Pollinators move pollen between plants that are exactly the same type or species; they take pollen from one plant's flower and spread it to another plant's flower. This pollen then fertilizes the other plant, which means it gives the plant what it needs to grow seeds and fruit. Seeds are like eggs, only instead of turning into chickens or other animals, they turn into new plants! Fruit protects and helps spread the seeds, which grow new plants. Without pollinators like bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, moths, flies, and bats to help fertilize plants, we wouldn't have all the tasty fruits and vegetables we love to eat!