Hey there! Squeaks and I just got back from playing outside, and I’m super thirsty. Luckily, I have a straw to help me drink every last drop of water from my bottle. This straw reminds me of something cool: flowers and their pollinators!
Last week, Squeaks and I watched butterflies in our garden. We saw them flying from flower to flower, sipping on the sweet nectar. But guess what? When they landed, they got some dusty yellow stuff on their legs. That was pollen!
As butterflies move from one flower to another, they spread pollen around. This process is called pollination, and the animals that help with it are called pollinators. Some plants need pollination to make seeds, which grow into new plants. So, both the butterfly and the plant benefit: the butterfly gets a tasty drink, and the plant gets help making seeds!
There are many kinds of flowers and pollinators. Butterflies, bees, bats, and more all help with pollination. These animals often have special body parts that make them perfect for certain flowers.
Take butterflies, for example. They have a special part called a proboscis, which is like a straw. This helps them reach nectar in long, skinny flowers. If their proboscis was shorter or wider, they wouldn’t be able to get the nectar as easily.
Let’s look at another example: the tube-lipped bat. This bat has a super long tongue, even longer than its body! This helps it reach nectar in tall, narrow flowers. When the bat drinks, its head gets covered in pollen, which it carries to the next flower.
Now, let’s think about birds. Some flowers are pollinated by birds like hummingbirds. Hummingbirds have thin, curved beaks that let them reach deep into flowers for nectar. As they drink, their heads get dusted with pollen, which they spread to other flowers.
Isn’t it amazing how pollinators and flowers work together? If you want to keep learning and having fun with Squeaks, Jessi, and me, be sure to subscribe to SciShow Kids. See you next time!
Pollinator Observation Walk: Take a walk in your garden or a nearby park with an adult. Look for different pollinators like butterflies, bees, or birds. Try to spot which flowers they visit. Can you see any pollen on them? Draw a picture of your favorite pollinator and the flower it visited. Discuss with your adult why you think that pollinator likes that particular flower.
Make a Pollinator Feeder: Create a simple butterfly or bee feeder using a shallow dish, some sugar water, and colorful paper flowers. Place it outside and watch to see if any pollinators come to visit. Keep a journal of what you see each day. How many different pollinators can you attract? What time of day do they visit the most?
Design Your Own Pollinator: Imagine you are creating a new pollinator. What special body parts would it have to help it reach nectar in flowers? Draw your pollinator and explain how it helps flowers. What kind of flowers would it visit? Share your creation with a friend or family member and see what ideas they come up with!
