Unsung Pollinators of the U.S.
Conservation begins with you!
Match the pollinator with their flower:
Caro
Sphinxy
Pollena
Rusti
Paldo
Hover on the flower to check your guess
Paldo
Bird pollinated flowers tend to open during the day, be red, showy and have lots of nectar
Sphinxy
Nighttime opening, pale colors and strong smell are common among moth pollinated flowers.
I open at night. My colors are pale and I have a strong fragrance.
I open during the day. I am red. I have my flowers at the end of branches. Perfect for standing on!
Swamp Thistle
Daytime is my active time. I am purple. I have no smell.
I have a strong sweet smell with pale, open flowers.
Rusti
Bee pollinated flowers have the most variety. Thistles have lots of pollen and nectar.
I produce lots of nectar at night. I have a strong fragrance and pale flowers.
Hawaiian
Morning Glory
Pollena
Bat pollinated flowers open at night, are white or pale and have a strong smell.
Agave
Caro & Rusti
Flowers can have more than one pollinator! Milkweeds are attractive to both bees & beetles
Milkweed
'Ohi'a lehua
Here's How We Compare [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Size
Life Span
Active
Time
.5 inch
2.75 to 3.75
inches
.5 to 1 inch
6.5 to 7
inches
5 inches
(wingspan)
Queen =
13 months
Worker =
2-6 months
10 years
Adult 3-4 weeks
Larvae 1-2 years
9.2 years
56 days
Daytime,
esp. 5-7am
& 5-7pm
Nighttime
Nighttime or Daytime
Daytime
Nighttime/
Dawn & Dusk
Where can you find us? Check out our pages for more information and details [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
References
1] NATURAL HISTORY AND FLASH REPERTOIRE OF THE SYNCHRONOUS FIREFLY PHOTINUS CAROLINUS (COLEOPTERA: LAMPYRIDAE) IN THE GREAT … LF Faust - Florida Entomologist, 2010 - JSTOR
[2]. Hawaii's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. (2005, October 01) Forest Birds. State of Hawaii, Division of Forestry and Wildlife.
[3] Rubinoff, D. and San Jose, M. (2010). Life history and host range of Hawaii’s endangered Blackburn’s sphinx moth (Manduca blackburni Butler). Proceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society 42, 53-59. https://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10125/19918/1/PHES-Rubinoff-42_53-59.pdf
[4] Bat Conservation International. (n.d.). Species Spotlight - Mexican Long-nosed Bat. Bat Conservation International. https://www.batcon.org/article/species-spotlight-mexican-long-nosed-bat/
[5] Statman-Weil, Z. (n.d.). Rusty-Patched Bumblebee (Bombus affinis). Forest Service Shield. https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/Bombus-affinis.shtml.