Science Common Sense

55 - How do flowers attract pollinators?

Flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies in a few ways:

1. Color and pattern: Bright colors and patterns, like stripes, guide pollinators to the flower. These colors often signal that the flower has nectar, a sweet drink that pollinators love.
2. Sweet scent: Flowers release a fragrance that pollinators can smell. This scent helps guide them to the flower.
3. Nectar and pollen: Pollinators visit flowers to collect nectar (food) and pollen (protein). As they collect these things, they accidentally transfer pollen between flowers, helping plants make seeds.
4. Shape and size: Flowers come in different shapes and sizes. Some have deep tubes that guide pollinators to the nectar, while others have flat surfaces that make it easy for them to land.

By using these tricks, flowers attract pollinators and get the help they need to make seeds.