Bees commonly collect pollen in “baskets” formed by stiff hairs on their hind legs or abdomens. Checkered beetles pick up pollen with numerous setae, developed scales that look like hairs.
Some plants, such as orchids, have coevolved with insects and can only be pollinated by one type of insect.
To humans, bees are clearly the most important pollinator. Without bees, many of the plants we rely on wouldn’t be able to reproduce—and produce many of the fruits we eat, such as apples and blueberries.
They aerate the soil, pollinate blossoms, and control insect and plant pests. Many insects, especially beetles, are scavengers, feeding on dead animals and fallen trees, thereby recycling nutrients back into the soil. As decomposers, insects help create top soil, the nutrient-rich layer of soil that helps plants grow.
