Xerces Society presents “Bitter Nectar, Toxic Pollen: Pollinators and Plant Chemicals.”

Bees and other pollinators visit flowers to forage for their food. Floral nectar supplies carbohydrates, and for bees, pollen is a critical protein source necessary to producing offspring. But pollinators also encounter a range of plant chemicals at flowers, some of them potent toxins like nicotine and cardiac glycosides. Why do flowers invest pollinator rewards with chemicals that might poison them? And how do pollinators cope with these chemicals? In this talk, Leif Richardson, Xerces Endangered Species Conservation Biologist, will dive into the fascinating world of plant chemical ecology, and share how these chemicals can both harm and heal their consumers.

This webinar will be recorded and available on our YouTube channel. Closed Captioning will be available during this webinar.

Learn more and register here today!


Leif Richardson - Endangered Species Conservation Biologist, California Bumble Bee Atlas - Xerces Society

To request a reasonable accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact outreach@xerces.org.