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Because of this, ants are more likely to take nectar without effectively cross-pollinating flowers in large quantities.
Over 300 species of fruits depend on bats for pollination, including mangos, bananas, and guavas.
Ants are busy insects who are often seen visiting flowers to collect energy-rich nectar. As they're wingless, they must crawl into each flower to reach their reward.
Bats are very important pollinators in tropical and desert climates. Most flower-visiting bats are found in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
Beetles have been pollinating flowers for millions of years, and they remain essential pollinators today. Many different species of beetles eat pollen. In fact, for some pollen is their main diet.
Beetles even defecate within flowers, earning them the nickname "mess and soil" pollinators.
Birds are very important pollinators of wildflowers throughout the world, including hummingbirds in the US.
From bumblebees to solitary bees, it's easy to spot these insects buzzing around. They purposefully visit flowers to collect pollen and nectar for food for themselves and their youngsters (and then there's the queen bee!).
The baobab possesses white and yellow flowers, and bushbabies love these sweet snacks. They then spread both seeds and pollen through their consumption of the plant.
Also known as galagos, these adorable pollinating primates are native to sub-Saharan Africa. What's more, they're essential to the pollination of the baobab tree.
These small African mammals use their strong and long trunk-like nose to search through the leaf-litter of woodlands and thickets.
Probing for their main fuel, nectar, butterflies are very active during the day and visit a variety of flowers.
However, they're less efficient than bees at moving pollen between plants. This is mainly because their thin legs don't pick up much pollen.
Along with consuming ants and termites, elephant shrews wash down their food with nectar from a variety of plants, thus spreading pollen as they travel.
The honey possum of Australia pollinates the flowers of banksia and eucalyptus plants.
With its tail, limbs, and pointed snout dusted with pollen, the honey possum pollinates as it moves from branch to branch.
Take the hover flies. These two-winged creatures are known to visit at least 72% of global food crops and over 70% of animal-pollinated wildflowers.
After dark, moths take over the night shift for pollination. Nocturnal plants, with pale or white flowers and which are heavy with fragrance, attract these pollinating insects.
Pollen collects on their muzzle, fur, and forearms, which is then transferred from tree to tree, making the lemur an excellent pollinator.
Madagascar is home to a wondrous variety of unique plants and animals, including lemurs, who love to snack on the nectar of flowers.
Lizards, geckos, and skinks can all be pollinators. But as these creatures don't have fur, you might wonder where does the pollen stick on them?
The poster child for pollination, bees need pollen and nectar from a variety of flowers. Many bees need water in addition to nectar.
Another pint-sized pollinating possum, this cute little thing glides over Australian forests in search of food, and spreads pollen widely in doing so.
Like the honey possum, sugar gliders enjoy eating pollen and drinking nectar from a variety of plants, which they spread thanks to their furry bodies and snouts.
Wasps are small, hungry creatures with high energy needs, so many of them search for flower nectar.
Well, pollen adheres to the scales of their bodies, and spreads as they move from flower to flower.
Wasps aren't as hairy as bees, so pollen doesn't stick to them as easily, but they're still important pollinators nonetheless.
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As pollen sticks to their furry bodies, they can travel long distances carrying the genetic information stuck to them.
Many fly species specifically visits flowers. And while they're not as hairy as bees and as efficient in carrying pollen, some are actually good pollinators.
In addition, brush-tongued parrots (pictured) and sunbirds serve as tropical pollen vectors.
An essential ecological survival function, without pollinators the human race and all the Earth's ecosystems wouldn't survive. When pollen grains move from flower to flower of the same species, it allows them to reproduce healthy and fertile seeds. Indeed, although pollination is essential for all plants to reproduce, very few can do it on their own. In fact, over 80% of plants and flowers require assistance to pollinate. But if you think for a second that pollination is just the work of bees, you couldn't be more wrong.
From other insects to birds and mammals, click on to discover the pollinators of the animal kingdom.
Beyond bees: looking at the other pollinators of the animal kingdom
These little creatures pollinators of the world!
LIFESTYLE Nature
An essential ecological survival function, without pollinators the human race and all the Earth's ecosystems wouldn't survive. When pollen grains move from flower to flower of the same species, it allows them to reproduce healthy and fertile seeds. Indeed, although pollination is essential for all plants to reproduce, very few can do it on their own. In fact, over 80% of plants and flowers require assistance to pollinate. But if you think for a second that pollination is just the work of bees, you couldn't be more wrong.
From other insects to birds and mammals, click on to discover the pollinators of the animal kingdom.