Types of Flowers That Can Be Pollinated by Insects

Blue-Yellow Flowers

• Plants that flower in colors ranging from ultraviolet through the yellow center of the spectrum attract bees. Honey bees, wasps, hornets, yellowjackets, ground bees--of all the thousands of types of bees on the planet, none can see red. The blue-yellow group includes many members of the asteraceae family including purple coneflowers, chrysanthemums and asters. Salvias, verbenas, violets and many blue-flowering herbs are also favorites. Other-colored flowers such as monarda and pansies must attract bees with ultraviolet "landing strip" markings near the base of their petals where they produce nectar.

Bright Diurnal Flowers

• Large, brightly colored flowers from the entire spectrum attract butterflies, who feed during the day. Butterflies like composite flowers such as Queen Anne's lace, sunflowers, angelica, milkweed, butterfly weed, all types of coneflowers and lupines that offer landing space on which to rest and graze numerous flowers. Each flower attracts specific breeds of butterflies that may be either resident or migrants in their natural range.

Pale, Fragrant Flowers

• Scent is the primary temptation for moths, which feed at night. Nocturnal-pales bloom at sunset and are colored white or light pastels so they show up well on moonlit nights. Pale evening primrose, honeysuckles, four-o'clocks and nicotiana all attract night-flying insects and focus intensely sweet scent through long cups, tailored to match the proboscis of the corresponding moth variety. They are heavy nectar-producers; moths are heavy consumers. Beetles prefer white or dull-colored blooms with fruity or spicy fragrances. Poppies, water lilies and magnolia, all flowers with many stamens and well-protected egg chambers, are favorites of beetles, who also eat flower parts in their search for nectar.

Carrion Flowers

• Flies will land on anything bees or butterflies like but when they have a choice they prefer a group of dark-colored--brown and dark red--plants that have scents similar to their preferred egg-laying medium, rotting meat. Many feature open, cup-shaped flowers for the convenience of the short-nosed fly. Smooth greenbrier (also called smooth carrion flower), fleabane and rafflesia flower are all carrion flowers that attract female flies and carrion beetles looking for a place to lay eggs. Eggs laid on these flowers are doomed because the emerging larva starves to death.