The Reality Reports

A Flower With Tiny Doors: Some flowers do not leave pollen exposed where any visitor can brush against it. Their pollen stays inside narrow anthers that open through small pores or slits. These structures are called poricidal anthers. Ordinary contact may release little pollen, so a visiting insect needs a more forceful method. Certain bees solve the problem through buzz pollination, also called floral sonication. Bumblebees, carpenter bees, and some sweat bees can perform it. Honey bees cannot. The behavior matters to wild plants and familiar crops, including tomatoes, eggplants, blueberries, cranberries, and peppers.

A group of butterflies resting on wet soil may seem unusual. They are not searching for flowers. They are drawing liquid from the ground through their straw-like mouthparts. This behavior is called puddling or mud-puddling. It helps certain butterflies obtain water and nutrients that may be scarce in their regular food.

A worker honey bee returning from a successful trip may bring more than nectar or pollen. She can also carry information about where she found it. Inside the hive, she shares that information through a pattern of movement called the waggle dance. The dance helps other workers locate useful flowers without following the scout from the hive. It is one part of a larger communication system that also includes scent, touch, vibration, and food samples.