Pollination. Macrophotograph of a bumblebee pollinating an iris flower. Bumblebees feed on the sugary fluid (nectar) produced deep inside the flower. The patterns on the flower's petals attract the insect. As the bumblebee enters the flower in search of nectar, hairs on the flower force the bee to brush against the flower's reproductive organs. The insect may become dusted with pollen or brush some pollen from another iris onto the female reproductive organ, so causing cross-pollination.