Entomophily or Insect Pollination: Definitions, Examples, History, Etymology, Taxonomic Diversity, Advantages, and Disadvantages

Entomophily Overview

Entomophily, sometimes known as insect pollination, is a type of pollination in which insects spread pollen from plants, primarily but not exclusively blooming plants. Flowers that are pollinated by insects often draw attention to themselves with vivid colors and sometimes noticeable patterns (honeyguides) that lead to rewards of pollen and nectar. They may also have a seductive aroma that occasionally resembles the pheromones of insects. Insect pollinators like bees have evolved to include pollen baskets on their hind legs in some species and lapping or sucking mouthparts to consume nectar. Developing insect pollination behaviors and flower pollination processes that benefited both groups required the coevolution of insects and blooming plants. Pollination and subsequent reproductive success are known to be impacted by a population's size and density. 

What is Pollination?

Pollination is the process of moving pollen grains from a flower's male anther to its female stigma in order to produce offspring for the following generation in a living thing that contains plants. There are several ways that plants can produce offspring, including by producing seeds.

What is Entomophily?

Entomophily, often known as insect pollination, is a kind of pollination in which insects spread pollen from plants, mostly but not exclusively those that are in bloom. Entomophily is the term for insect pollination, and an entomophilous bloom is one that is pollinated by insects. The process ofpollinating a flower with pollen transported by an insect is known as entomophily pollination. Flowers that attract insects tend to be vibrantly colored, aromatic, and nectar-producing. In certain species, like primulas, anatomical differences between the blooms ensure cross-pollination. There are two more entomophilic flowers-

1. Anthuriums

2. Orchids

Although ants, flies, butterflies, and wasps are all significant pollinators globally, bees are among the most well-known groups of insects that pollinate flowers. The appealing adaptations that plants have developed to attract insects include colorful petals, fragrant blooms, and mouthwatering nectar.

Examples of Entomophily

Bees, butterflies, wasps, ants, moths, midges, and more are entomophilous pollinators. The following table gives details about the entomophily examples-

History of Entomophily

The wind played a significant role in the early spermatophytes' (seed plants') ability to transfer pollen from one plant to another. Some gymnosperms, like the Bennettitales, produced flower-like structures that were probably pollinated by insects before the emergence of blooming plants. The use of insects to pollinate gymnosperms probably began during the Permian epoch. Candidates for pollinators include extinct long probosci's insect groups, including Aneuretopsychid, Mesopsychid, and Pseudopolycentropodid scorpionflies, Kalligrammatid and Paradoxosisyrine lacewings, and Zhangsolvid flies, as well as some extant families that specialized on gymnosperms before switching to angiosperms, including Nemestrinid, Tabanid, and Acrocerid flies.

Read more about the Plant Fibres (Cotton and Jute).

Etymology of Entomophily

The term is intentionally formed from the Greek words entomo, which means "cut in pieces, segmented," therefore "insect," and phile, which means "loved."

Taxonomic Diversity of Entomophily

The reproductive method used by grasses, sedges, rushes, and plants that produce catkins are wind pollination. Other blooming plants, which appear to be in a more basic stage, are mostly pollinated by insects (or by birds or bats), and some have subsequently gained wind pollination. Some wind-pollinated plants still have their nectaries, while others, like common heather, are often pollinated by insects and yet release clouds of pollen, making some wind pollination inevitable. Insects also visit the hoary plantain, which is predominantly pollinated by the wind. In general, colorful, vibrant, aromatic flowers like sunflowers, orchids, and Buddleja are pollinated by insects. The dung-mosses in the family Splachnaceae are the only entomophilous plants that are not seeds.

Read more about the Father of Botany, and Father of Biology.

What is Insect Pollination?

For the reproduction of blooming plants, pollination is crucial. The majority of blooming plants must rely on animal pollination because they are unable to do so on their own. Most of the blooming plants in the world are pollinated by invertebrates like honey bees and butterflies. There are several more insects, though, that contribute to pollination. Plants that are pollinated by insects have special adaptations, including colorful flowers with distinctive patterns that attract pollinating and nectar-seeking insects. Few plants produce pheromones to attract insects that mimic insect pheromones. Plants that consume insects are said to be entomophilous. Incorrect insect pollination might be hampered by a variety of factors. If there is too much rain or wind, pollinators might not be able to spread a plant's blooms. The use of pesticides by gardeners to keep harmful insects away from their plants will also kill beneficial insects, keeping them out of the garden.

Read more about Thallophytes and Bryophytes.

Advantages of Entomophily

The following are some of the advantages of Etomophily-

1. Insects can readily locate other flowers of a similar sort because of their favorable placement in the wind; as a result, they don't need to generate a lot of dust.
2. This was one notion for the goal of angiosperm ascension, but they only achieved fertilization.
3. When a creepy-crawly reaches for a flower to tend, dust particles stick to its body.
4. When insects wander from plant to plant in quest of food, they fertilize flowers.

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Disadvantages of Entomophily

The following are some of the disadvantages of Etomophily-

1. Cross-fertilization takes into account the many species variations and links the hereditary information of various plants.
2. Recessive traits are eliminated through self-fertilization.
3. The plants don't rely on outside factors for fertilization, and much smaller quantities of dust grains result in a straightforward success rate for becoming pollinated.

Points of Remember

1. Bright hues, potent scents, striking patterns, and nectar draw insects to flowers, causing pollination.
2. Flies are typically drawn to flowers that have an aroma of rotting flesh and are dark brown or purple in appearance.
3. Moths are drawn to white flowers at night, whereas bees and butterflies are drawn to bold, vividly colored blooms during the day.
4. The following insects are crucial for pollination: the moth, fly, butterfly, bee, and wasp.
5. The lives of both plants and insects depend on each other; flowers are pollinated by insects, and insects obtain their sustenance from the soil.