Bee Pollination Process: Flies, Butterflies, Moths, Other Insects Also

"A shift in perspective from a bee-only focus is needed for assessments of crop pollinator biodiversity and the economic value of pollination", the scientists said.

Researchers during the study identified various non-bee insects that are vital for pollination of various fruits and plants.

Bees aren't the only important pollinators that the world needs to protect, according to a survey recently released by the University of Queensland in Australia that analyzed the role of flies, butterflies, moths and other pollinators or insects that help in the pollinating process.

Dr Mayfield, who is who is the Director of UQ's School of Biological Sciences Ecology Centre, said the research was led by Dr Romina Rader from the University of New England, Armidale, and involved a team of global researchers who carried out 39 field studies on 17 crops in five continents.

Mayfield explained how risky it is that the global burden of pollination relies on the tiny and exhausted shoulders of the honeybees; the threats to the health of honeybees populations are increasing, mostly due to diseases and pests, but also because of colony collapse disorder. Mayfield argues that non-bee insects are just as important as bees, acting as an insurance policy against heavy declines in bee populations. Researchers examined the species and behaviors of pollinators on different types of crops across the globe.

Mayfield said non-bee insects like flies, wasps, butterflies and beetles are an insurance against bee population declines and they are taking every possible step to use scientific findings such as these to promote a change in agricultural practices.

And, obviously, most other insects seem like pests as well but the study warns that while these other buzzing things might not provide us with a direct benefit of plant pollination, they are still important; and killing them is not going to make this world a better place.

"These two factors compensated for each other, resulting in pollination services similar to bees". However, insecticides that spare bees could detrimentally pose threats in other insects that perform pollination as well. "While this is probably true in a lot of areas, it is likely particular landscapes and habitats have more abundant non-bees that we haven't really paid attention to", she said.

The field data showed that non-bee pollinators made up a quarter to a half of all flower visits.