Only Herbivores Count: 45 Plant Species Rely on Bees, Exclude Bees Only 25

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 09:45:46 +0000

Only Herbivores Count: 45 Plant Species Rely on Bees — 25 Depend Directly Without Bees In the intricate web of life, pollinators play an irreplaceable role—especially bees, whose tireless work enables countless plant species to reproduce. Yet today, a striking fact emerges: while bees support 45 plant species, only 25 of these rely exclusively on bees for pollination. This pivotal distinction reveals a deeper story about ecological dependency, biodiversity, and the importance of preserving both bees and the plants that thrive because of them. ### Why Bees Matter to Herbivores Herbivores, from the majestic deer to tiny insects, form the backbone of terrestrial food webs. For many herbivorous species, their survival hinges on the plants they consume—and often, those plants depend on pollinators like bees to create seeds and fruits. Among the 45 bee-dependent plants, 25 stand out as true specialists: these species evolved intricate relationships with bees and depend almost entirely on bee-mediated pollination for reproduction. Without bees, these plants face steep declines in population and genetic diversity.