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Pollinator of the Month

Pollinator of the Month

Rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus).
Rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus)

Pollinator of the Month will highlight the interdependency of certain species of native North American wildflowers and their animal pollinators. Most plants have a flower morphology, color, blooming period, and/or scent that will attract a particular type of pollinator to reap its food rewards of nectar and pollen.

For some species, the co-evolved relationship between plant and pollinator can be so interconnected that the disappearance of one can signal the extinction of the other. Likewise, efforts to conserve or restore plant communities should pay special attention to the needs of the pollinators associated with those plants in order to promote long-term success.

Pollinator of the Month demonstrates the beautiful dance between native plants and their pollinators found in a variety of ecosystems across the United States.

Previous Pollinators of the Month

The thumbnail links below are an archive of previous Pollinator of the Month descriptions.

Bee fly.
Bee Flies (Bombylius spp.)

cuckoo bumblebee searching for pollen and nectar on a sneezeweed flower.
Bumblebees

carpenter bee on a penstemon flower.
Carpenter Bees

Pleistodontes imperialis.
Fig Wasps

Flower fly on a yellow leaf.
Flower Flies

Fritillary.
Fritillary

Globe mallow bee foraging for pollen on Munro’s globemallow, in the process pollinating the flower.
Globe Mallow Bee

A metallic green sweat bee visits a wild rose flower.
Halictid Bees

the pink-spotted hawk moth on a Datura blossom.
Hawk Moths

Snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis).
Hummingbird Moth

male Karner blue butterfly on a grass leaf.
Karner Blue Butterfly

A female megachile leafcutter bee.
Leaf Cutting Bees

lesser long-nosed bat in flight approaching a catcus flower.
Lesser Long-nosed Bat

adult monarch butterfly.
Monarch Butterfly

Perdita minima.
Perdita minima

pollen wasp on Penstemon haydenii.
Pollen Wasps

Rose-mallow Bee.
Rose-mallow Bee

ruby-throated hummingbird and honey bee in flight at a pink flower.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Sonoran Bumblebee (Bombus sonorus).
Sonoran Bumblebee (Bombus sonorus)

male squash bee on a squash flower.
Squash Bees

Yucca moth.
Yucca Moths

Pleistodontes imperialis
Zebra Longwing Butterfly

Celebrating Wildflowers Partners

North American Pollinator Protection Campaign Logo. Celebrating Wildflowers is a NAPPC partner.

U.S. Forest Service
Rangeland Management
Botany Program
1400 Independence Ave., SW, Mailstop Code: 1103
Washington DC 20250-1103

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Location: http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/index.shtml
Last modified: Wednesday, 17-Aug-2011 13:24:11 EDT