Non-bee insects are important contributors to global crop pollination

Wild and managed bees are well documented as effective pollinators of global crops of economic importance. However, the contributions by pollinators other than bees have been little explored despite their potential to contribute to crop production and stability in the face of environmental change. Non-bee pollinators include flies, beetles, moths, butterflies, wasps, ants, birds, and bats, among others. Here we focus on non-bee insects and synthesize 39 field studies from five continents that directly measured the crop pollination services provided by non-bees, honey bees, and other bees to compare the relative contributions of these taxa. Non-bees performed 25-50% of the total number of flower visits.…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Award: FP7/2007-2013
• WT
  Wellcome Trust

  Awards: 2015-6, FP7/2007-2013
• DF
  Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK Government
• EC
  European Commission

  Awards: 244090, GOCE-CT-2003-506675, FP7/2007-2013, 2007-2013, FP7/2007, 631653
• SN
  Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung

  Awards: FP7/2007-2013, 127632, 3100A0
• UO
  University of New England
• SF
  Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas
• CN
  Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

  Award: PI 40-B-399
• CN
  Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

  Awards: 2013-0, 300005/2015-6, 2015-6
• IS
  Israel Science Foundation

  Award: FP7/2007-2013
• V
  Vetenskapsrådet

  Award: FP7/2007-2013
• UN
  Universidad Nacional de Río Negro

  Awards: 40-B-399, PI 40-B-399
• DF
  Directorate for Biological Sciences
• BA
  Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

  Award: BB/I000348/1
• NE
  Natural Environment Research Council

  Award: FP7/2007-2013