Pollinators in New Zealand (Teacher Support)

Answers/guidance for student Pollinators in New Zealand Spotter Guide

Relates to: student Pollinators in New Zealand Spotter Guide

1. Look for places that have a variety of flowering plants. The plants may include: weeds, crops, vegetable plants that have gone to seed (e.g. carrot and onions), plants in a garden flower bed, and flowering trees or shrubs.
2. We can infer they are pollinators because they are seen to move from flower to flower. Better evidence is that pollen is seen on their heads, bodies or feet. Two good examples shown on the Spotter Guide are the tūī and korimako (bellbird) with pollen coating their beaks and heads.
   
   Pollen feeding
   With close, but safe viewing, students will be able to identify pollen collecting activities of honey bees and bumble bees, where the pollen is stored in their pollen baskets found on the outsides of their hind legs ready for transport back to the nest or hive. Other insects will be feeding on the pollen from the stamens of flowers. Drone flies for example dab their tongues on stamens as they steadily work their way over the flowers feeding on the pollen. In both examples they will be inadvertently spreading pollen attached to their bodies to other flowers, allowing pollination to occur.
   
   Nectar feeding
   Nectar feeders like bumble bees, honey bees, tūī and korimako (bellbirds) attend the flowers because they collect sweet energy rich nectar that the flowers tempt them with. You will see them probing into the bottoms of the flower structures. Again, pollen is carried from flower to flower inadvertently, achieving pollination.

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