sabato 26 gennaio 2008

Understanding the role of insects in gardening

Insects, birds or any animals play special roles in helping many plants pollinate, helping some plants reproduce or transferring seeds from another place they are called helper. There are also some types of insects, which are unwanted intruders in our home and in our gardens.
 
The cycles of pollination and seeds disbursal will help and benefits both plants and animals. The benefits of plants are that it seeds are spread in any locations to start new plant or to continue its species. While the mammals, insects and birds benefited in plants or flowers in many ways which include:

1. Nectar - is sugary solution substance with a good taste and energy giving substance. This signals some insects, birds, and animals to get its nectar.  Natures have provided many various ways to attract most insects, birds and pollinating animals. Some types of flowers store their nectar in a special gland called nectaries- it is frequently found in the flowers but sometimes it is found in the leaves or any part of the plant. Most of the nectar's storage locations of plants are made to protect them for non-pollinating insects and animals. The sugar concentration of the plants nectars is base to the energy requirement of the insects, birds and animals in order to make honey; the bees require a 30-35% concentration of sugar to their larvae for winter. Pollinators, example bees will not visit any flowers with its sugar concentration less the 30% but will be attracted to any plants or flowers having higher concentrated sugar in their nectar.

2. Pollen -secrets by the flowers and plants to attract and signals insects, birds and pollinating animals to suck their nectars. Bees need pollen as source of food. Beebread, it is a high protein combination of pollen and nectar that used to feed larvae. Plants such as peonies, poppies and roses, used only pollen as rewards and produce no nectar at all.

Some type of plants produce two type of pollen - their normal pollen and sterile pollen with is attractive to pollinating insects. This strategy ensures that the good tasting pollen will be eaten while the reproductive pollen will be spread to other areas by the insects, birds and animals that visit the plant. Other plants produce this pollen and nectar in a form of bright color or strong scents in order to attract insects or animals where usually the animals or insects cannot find it. Insects, birds or animals rely first on their sight or some such as nocturnal rely on its sense smell where the scents of flowers attract insects, birds and animals.

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