Lessertia argentea serving lunch

Bees are among the pollinators of Lessertia argentea. This one perched upon some buds is exploring the open flower for nectar, its food and of course the raw material for its honey. From the plant’s perspective, pollen is the key to such insect visitations, nectar only the currency of the bees reward.

Plant hairs and bee hairs serve their bearers differently. Plant hairs perform moisture-related functions like saving water, restricting evaporation, slowing down desiccation and countering the wind.

The functions of bee hairs are less clear. They probably provide sensory input and serve as insulation, the pollination benefit incidental. While the hairs are useful in taking and releasing sticky pollen grains and do this often enough, this is hardly sufficient cause for the evolutionary development of hairs. Hairless insects also pollinate.

The place-bound partner in the liaison (the plant) secretes a valued item for the other party (the insect), capable of flight, to eat. Carrying and delivering parcels like a postman to unlisted but appropriate destinations is a vital function, benefiting untold species in their quest for survival.

Mundane or miracle, being fed in exchange for procreation-facilitating deliveries is among the top of the list of ecological transactions. These mutually beneficial exchanges count among the most harmonious, therefore among the most inspiring events people observe daily in life on earth (Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; JSTOR).