Buzz pollination

[1] The anthers of buzz-pollinated plant species are typically tubular, with an opening at only one end, and the pollen inside is smooth-grained and firmly attached.

With self-fertile plants such as tomatoes, wind may be sufficient to shake loose the pollen through pores in the anther and accomplish pollination.

Pollen contains a substantial amount of protein compared to nectar, the sugary liquid the majority of plants produce as a reward for their animal pollinators.

Bees from Bombus and Xylocopa are thought to pollinate these flowers because their adaptive behavior allows them to easily extract pollen that is less available to other insects.

Although the bees did not know the O. frutescens would benefit from these multiple visits as the plants continue to produce pollen during the flowering season.

However, in North America, the managed honeybee industry experienced decline in the early 2000s due to colony collapse disorder.

This has led to higher expenses for farmers from the east to the west coast of the United States and Canada to help pollinate almonds, cucumbers and certain seed plants.

Due to competition between producers and an increase in success rate of rearing, the total costs for the bumblebee colonies have diminished severely.

[11] Some conservation organisations expressed concerns about the potential environmental impacts of introducing bumblebees around the world to aid in pollination.