How do bees contribute to pollination?

Bees play a crucial role in the process of pollination, which is essential for the reproduction of many flowering plants. The correct answer highlights the primary way bees contribute to this process: by transferring pollen from the male part of a flower, known as the anther, to the female part, called the stigma. This transfer of pollen enables fertilization, which leads to the production of seeds and fruit.

As bees collect nectar and pollen for their own food source, they inadvertently pick up pollen grains from flowers they visit. When they move to another flower, some of this pollen is deposited on the stigma, facilitating the pollination process. This natural behavior is vital not only for the lifecycle of plants but also has a significant impact on agricultural productivity, as many crops rely on bee pollination for optimal yields.

The other choices, while related to bees, do not directly describe their role in pollination. Producing nectar is part of the flowering process and provides sustenance for bees, but it is not the mechanism through which pollination occurs. Likewise, building honeycombs and regulating hive temperature are important activities within a bee colony but do not pertain to the act of pollination itself.