nectar robber

insect

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Last updated

July 22, 2026

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A nectar robber is an insect that obtains nectar from a flower without pollinating it. Nectar is a sweet secretion from glands in plants, primarily composed of sugars like fructose, glucose, and sucrose, which serves as a food reward for pollinators. While many insects, such as bees, visit flowers to collect nectar and facilitate pollination, nectar robbers bypass the flower's reproductive parts. They often achieve this by piercing the flower's exterior to access the nectar directly, thus "stealing" the reward without contributing to the plant's reproduction. This behavior contrasts with the typical coevolutionary relationship between flowers and their pollinators, where nectar exchange leads to pollination.1

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nectar
Some insects, known generally as nectar robbers, bypass the sexual organs of the flowers to obtain nectar, often by penetrating the outside of the flower rather than entering it. In this way, nectar robbers “steal” the nectar reward without facilitating pollination.
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Some insects, known generally as nectar robbers, bypass the sexual organs of the flowers to obtain nectar, often by penetrating the outside of the flower rather than entering it. In this way, nectar robbers “steal” the nectar reward without facilitating pollination.
Read More