An entomologist tracks a bee that carries pollen from 8 different plant species. If each flower visit transfers pollen from one species, and the bee visits 20 flowers, how many distinct plant species could potentially contribute to pollen load, assuming each visit is from a different species?

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 03:55:47 +0000

Title: Remarkable Pollen Transport: How Bees Connect 8 Diverse Plant Species Through Foraging Meta Description:
An entomologist’s study reveals a single foraging bee transferring pollen from 8 distinct plant species. Discover how 20 flower visits lead to diverse pollen load contributions and what this means for pollination networks. --- Can One Bee Connect Eight Different Plant Species?
When studying pollinators like bees, understanding pollen transport is key to unlocking insights about plant reproduction and ecosystem health. A recent entomological study tracked a single foraging bee that visited 20 flowers, transferring pollen from 8 different plant species—but how many of these species truly contributed uniquely to the bee’s pollen load?