Bees that pollinate orchids in the tropics do not live in hives. Like butterflies and moths, these bees have long tongues to reach the orchid's nectar. Orchids belong to one of the largest families of flowering plants, Orchidaceae. This family has a huge variety of different flowers because the plants have evolved over millions of years. Orchid flowers have different strategies to make sure that the pollinator does its job.
Flowers use their color, shape, and even fragrance to attract pollinators.
To encourage pollinators to visit again, many orchids offer rewards like nectar or pollen. During pollination, pollen grains are moved from a structure called an anther to a different flower part called a stigma. The sticky pollen attaches to body parts of the animals that visit the flowers, and is then brushed onto the stigma. This must happen before orchid seeds and fruit can develop.