Author Archives: sukahumbu

Trees and shrubs for bees and other pollinators: Trees Acacias: Acacia xanthophloea Acacia kirkii Acacia senegal Acacia tortilis Note: All indigenous acacias are key resources for pollinators. An abundance and diversity of insects can be found swarming around flowering acacias. Acacia tortilis, and Acacia senegal are just two of many important dryland species. Albizia spp. […]

  True flies are grouped together in the insect group Diptera, which means ‘two wings’. There are over 150,000 known species of flies in the world. They can be found in most habitats, and are numerous in number. Many different kinds of flies visit flowers for nectar, pollen, to lay eggs in the flower, or to […]

 This is a general list of crops grown in the region that are dependent on pollinators. For most of these crops, we have not had the benefit of extensive studies, and much remains to be learnt about their interactions with pollinators.Some crops are 100% dependent on pollinators, without whose pollination services there are simply no […]

Pollination takes place when pollen is transferred from the male part of a flower (the anthers) where pollen is produced, to the female part (the stigma) of another flower of the same species, where the pollen germinates. Pollinators (like bees, wasps, moths, bats) transport pollen between flowers, ensuring that flowers produce seeds and fruits. Many […]

 Many people think wasps are a nuisance, or are afraid of wasps because they sting. But wasps are also beneficial. As they are predatory, and capture insects they provide vital ecological pest control services. Wasps also require pollen and nectar, and are common visitors to flowers. They carry pollen as they move around flowers, and […]

Sunbirds are colourful pollinators of many plants. They are generally small in size, and have long curved beaks. Flowers pollinated by sunbirds are often red or orange, have long tubular flowers, with lots of sugary nectar. Giant lobelias that grow on the high mountains of East Africa are pollinated by sunbirds, as are Aloes and […]

Ants Resource Needs Across Africa many will be familiar with ant-hills—they are one type of ant nest. Ants require areas of ground, decaying wood, and the canopy of trees for nesting. To successfully establish an ant colony, they will also need an adequate prey food base. They also require to be near water, and to […]

The Flora of Tropical East Africa provides descriptions of over 12,000 wild plant species. Two-thirds of the flowering plants are dependent on wild pollinators, and many of these plants have co-evolved, over millions of years, with the wild pollinators that pollinate them. Most pollinators are wild insects. For plants and wild insects to thrive, natural […]

These children at Nalare in Samburu are blessed to have over thirty different bee species visiting the flowering acacia tree where they have lunch. There are hundreds of different bees present at this one site alone. Education of young people is key for protecting pollinators and biodiversity. About the East Africa Natural History Society, popularly […]

B utterflies are well known insects that are active by day. They land on flowers to feed, so they prefer large, or flat flowers where this is possible. Butterflies pollinate many red flowers with short tubes. Flowers that are pollinated by moths, are often white or pale, and have a strong fragrance. The fragrance is […]