ABSTRACT
Flowers are frequently visited by insects searching for food, such as pollen and nectar.[1] The impact of such insects can be detrimental, benefi cial, or mutualistic. Some insects will feed on fl owers and damage them. Fruits are damaged by a great variety of insects, which look for seeds that are very rich in nitrogen.[2] Others will feed on the fruit itself.[3,4]
Every year, millions of dollars are spent to control the insect pests of fl owers, and, in particular, those feeding on fruits and seeds. However, insects visiting fl owers are also benefi cial, by dispersing seeds and pollinating several major crops and vegetables.[5] Mutualistic interactions occur between fl owers and honey bees, Apis mellifera L. Whereas bees facilitate pollination, fl owers provide pollen and nectar for developing bees in hives. This mutualistic interaction led to domestication of the honey bee.
