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Gold Dusters

They are the Earth’s pollinators. And they come in more than 200,000 shapes and sizes.

/2011/03/pollinators/img/01-rare-caper-flower-perfume-714.jpg /2011/03/pollinators/img/pollinators-60-01.jpg Photograph by Mark W. Moffett Apis mellifera on Capparis sandwichiana, Hawaii]]> /2011/03/pollinators/img/02-arizona-sweat-bee-714.jpg /2011/03/pollinators/img/pollinators-60-02.jpg Photograph by Mark W. Moffett Augochloropsis (Paraugochloropsis) metallica on Solanium rostratum, Arizona]]> /2011/03/pollinators/img/03-lemur-cactus-714.jpg /2011/03/pollinators/img/pollinators-60-03.jpg Photograph by Mark W. Moffett Lemur catta on Cereus hildmannianus, Madagascar]]> /2011/03/pollinators/img/04-ornate-day-gecko-714.jpg /2011/03/pollinators/img/pollinators-60-04.jpg Photograph by Mark W. Moffett Phelsuma ornata on Gastonia mauritiana, Mauritius]]> /2011/03/pollinators/img/05-probing-mosquito-714.jpg /2011/03/pollinators/img/pollinators-60-05.jpg Photograph by Mark W. Moffett Aedes sp. on Platanthera obtusata, Minnesota]]> /2011/03/pollinators/img/06-cactus-bee-714.jpg /2011/03/pollinators/img/pollinators-60-06.jpg Photograph by Mark W. Moffett Diadasia sp.) pollinates a barrel cactus in Tucson, Arizona. ]]> /2011/03/pollinators/img/07-tarantula-hawk-wasp-714.jpg /2011/03/pollinators/img/pollinators-60-07.jpg Photograph by Mark W. Moffett Pepsis sp. on Asclepias subulata, Arizona]]> /2011/03/pollinators/img/08-ant-cross-pollination-714.jpg /2011/03/pollinators/img/pollinators-60-08.jpg Photograph by Mark W. Moffett Forelius pruinosus on Chamaesyce sp., Arizona]]> /2011/03/pollinators/img/09-midge-collecting-from-cacao-714.jpg /2011/03/pollinators/img/pollinators-60-09.jpg Photograph by Mark W. Moffett /2011/03/pollinators/img/10-beetles-pollen-carriers-714.jpg /2011/03/pollinators/img/pollinators-60-10.jpg Photograph by Mark W. Moffett Cantharidae on Magnolia grandiflora, National Arboretum, Washington, D.C. ]]> /2011/03/pollinators/img/11-parasitic-wasp-714.jpg /2011/03/pollinators/img/pollinators-60-11.jpg Photograph by Mark W. Moffett Ficus insipida fig tree fruit to lay its eggs. This wasp is not a pollinator but rather a copycat that preys on real pollinator wasps. Still, the intruder may have a positive role: It helps keep the pollinating wasps from settling too long in flowers. This respite gives the blooms extra time to produce seeds. ]]> /2011/03/pollinators/img/12-manduca-hawk-moth-714.jpg /2011/03/pollinators/img/pollinators-60-12.jpg Photograph by Mark W. Moffett Manduca hawk moth swoops in to probe an angelâs trumpet. The pair co-evolved, so their pollinating parts are a perfect fit, and the night feeder can see the flower in the dark. Manduca quinquemaculata on Mirabilis longiflora, Arizona]]> /2011/03/pollinators/img/13-heliconius-hot-lips-blossum-714.jpg /2011/03/pollinators/img/pollinators-60-13.jpg Photograph by Mark W. Moffett Heliconius loads up on pollen at a hot-lips blossom. Most butterflies only sip nectar, but this one has evolved with special equipment—a snout that allows it to mine and then digest pollen. Amino acids in the pollen extend the animal's life, giving it extra weeks to breed. Heliconius erato on Psychotria poeppigiana, Panama]]> /2011/03/pollinators/img/14-japanese-white-eye-714.jpg /2011/03/pollinators/img/pollinators-60-14.jpg Photograph by Mark W. Moffett hahaâaiakamanu. In this case the bird sidesteps the pollen, doing the plant no service at all. Zosterops japonicus on Clermontia fauriei, Hawaii]]> /2011/03/pollinators/img/15-pollen-blown-research-714.jpg /2011/03/pollinators/img/pollinators-60-15.jpg Photograph by Mark W. Moffett /2011/03/pollinators/img/16-apple-orchard-fog-714.jpg /2011/03/pollinators/img/pollinators-60-16.jpg Photograph by Amy Toensing /2011/03/pollinators/img/17-infested-bees-714.jpg /2011/03/pollinators/img/pollinators-60-17.jpg Photograph by Mark W. Moffett Varroa mite (red dots above), also implicated in CCD, remains honeybeesâ most devastating pest worldwide. Apis mellifera infested with Varroa destructor]]> /2011/03/pollinators/img/18-bumblebee-nector-714.jpg /2011/03/pollinators/img/pollinators-60-18.jpg Photograph by Mark W. Moffett /2011/03/pollinators/img/19-sunflower-butterfly-714.jpg /2011/03/pollinators/img/pollinators-60-19.jpg Photograph by Mark W. Moffett