Pollination and honey bees

Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anthers (male parts) of a flower to the stigma (female parts) of a flower of the same species, which results in fertilization of plant ovaries and the production of seeds.

The male parts of the flower are called the stamens and are made up of the anther at the top and the stalk or filament that supports the anther. The female elements are collectively called the pistil. The top of the pistil is called the stigma.

Honey bees pollinate plants as they forage on the flowers. When they collect nectar and pollen from the flower of a plant, some pollen from the stamens sticks to the hairs of their body. When they visit the next flower, some of this pollen is rubbed off onto the stigma, or tip of the pistil. This initiates the plant pollination process.

Bees make excellent pollinators because most of their life is spent collecting pollen, a source of protein that they feed to their developing offspring.
Pollination and honey bees