What Insects Pollinate Magnolias?

Pollination

• Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the male to the female part of a flower. It can take place within the same flower, or between different ones. Transferring pollen fertilizes the plant so it can produce fruit and seeds. As flowers are immobile, they depend on wind, water and animals to transfer their pollen. Many produce a sugary liquid to attract insects. As the insect moves around the flower to find the nectar, it transfers pollen to the pistil, or female reproductive part of the flower.

Magnolias

• The Magnoliaceae family is a diverse group of plants native to the United States and Southeast Asia, with approximately 80 different species. Magnolias are primitive flowering plants that range in size from small shrubs to large trees. Although their fruit has the appearance of a cone, and some species are evergreen, they are not coniferous plants. Depending on the species, they have distinctive scents, ranging from citrus to an offensive, earthy smell. These scents may attract a variety of insect species. Insects in search of a sugar meal will not stay long at a magnolia, as it does not produce nectar.

Beetles

• Coleoptera, or beetles, are the largest group of insects with over 300,000 species worldwide. They occupy a wide range of habitats including vegetation, water, soil and dung. They range in size from near microscopic, to over 6 inches long. All beetles have a hard shell-like exterior. Their two outer wing coverings, elytra, protect the more delicate wings underneath. Unlike other pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies, beetles are rather clumsy fliers.

Magnolia Pollination

• Magnolia flowers are strong, large and bowl shaped, with an accessible pollen source. This floral structure is typical of most cantharophilous, beetle-pollinated, plants. Heavy and awkward beetles can easily crawl onto a magnolia flower and reach the pollen without falling off the plant. With their chewing mouth parts, they can cause significant damage to the plants they visit. Magnolias have well-protected ovaries and abundant, easily available pollen to minimize the potential damage from beetles. Typical magnolia visiting beetles include sap, leaf and snout beetles.