Fly crouched on belly on turquoise and orange

8 x 10 inches
oil on wood
2020

I am a big fan of tomatoes. And apples. Especially bananas! No, wait - mangos. Not to forget chocolate, of course !!!!!!
Food is our basic human need, and without pollinators, we would go hungry! Birds, bats, bees, butterflies, beetles, flies, and small animals that pollinate plants are responsible for bringing us one out of every three bites of food. Pollinating animals travel from plant to plant carrying pollen on their bodies in a vital interaction that allows the transfer of genetic material critical to the reproductive system of most flowering plants. With the decline of pollinators on the rise, our food is on the line. More than 200,000 species of pollinators are critical to the stability of our food supply.
Use your terrace, your balcony or your front yard to honor pollinators and the work that they do! Plant pollinator friendly flowers and refrain from pesticides.

When asked to describe insect species that can pollinate flowers, most people think of bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds. However, flies are critical pollinators in both natural and agricultural systems. A recent analysis of crop species found that flies visited 72% of the 105 crops studied (bees visited 93%).