An entomologist is studying a crop field where each bee visit pollinates 14 flowers, and each flower requires 3 visits to be fully pollinated. If 280 flowers need full pollination and each bee makes 42 visits per foraging trip, how many bees are needed to complete the pollination in one trip each?

Wed, 06 May 2026 11:03:16 +0000

**Why Pollination Efficiency Matters in Modern Agriculture—and How Entomologists Are Solving It** As global food demand rises, researchers are turning deeper into the hidden science shaping crop yields—specifically, the role of insect pollinators in maintaining agricultural productivity. When each bee visit pollinates 14 flowers, and a full pollination requires 3 visits per flower, the math behind successful harvests becomes surprisingly precise. With 280 flowers needing complete pollination, understanding how quickly and effectively pollinators can complete this task helps inform sustainable farming strategies. Add to this the growing attention on climate impacts, food security, and sustainable agriculture, and it’s no wonder this topic is gaining traction among like-minded readers across the United States. ### The Science Behind the Pollination Equation Working at the intersection of ecology and agriculture, entomologists studying crop fields face a key puzzle: maximizing efficiency while ensuring every flower receives the needed pollination. Each bee visit delivers 14 flower visits, but each flower requires exactly 3 to become fully pollinated. With 280 flowers in total, the first step is calculating how many total visits are required. Multiply 280 by 3—each flower needs 3 pollination events—yielding 840 total flower visits. Then, divide that by 14, the number each bee delivers during a single foraging trip, giving the minimum number of bees required: 840 ÷ 14 = 60. This means 60 bees, each making 42 flower visits on a single trip, collectively complete the full pollination cycle efficiently.