Honeybee can visit many plant species all over the world – but it doesn’t make it the best pollinator for them all. For example, it doesn’t like visiting alfalfa (Medicago sativa). In order to be pollinated, alfalfa flower has to be tripped by a bee, and it hits it in the head with its stamens in the process. The honeybee doesn’t like such a mistreating but there are other species, like the alfalfa leafcutter bee (Megachile rotundata) or the alkali bee (Nomia melanderi) who don’t care. Both of them are bred as pollinators of alfalfa.
I’m not sure whether the plant on the drawing is alfalfa, or some related species but I hope you don’t mind.

Leave a comment