Floral highways: Nectar guides and their interaction with bees

Abstract

Flowering plants have evolved over the years with specific strategies such as nectar guides, small patterns on the petals of the flower that reflect light and manage to attract the attention of a great variety of pollinators such as bees. The bees visit the flower carrying pollen from other flowers and pollinate the plant so that fertilization can happen later, in return, the pollinator receives a reward like pollen, nectar, resins and fragrances. This intimate relationship can be the reason why spermatophytes or flowering plants are now the most abundant in terms of flora diversity.