Squash and related plants of the genus Cucurbita are monoecious, having both male (staminate) and female flowers (pistillate) on the same plant. To insure fertilization under natural conditions, pollen from the male flower must be carried to the stigma of the female flower by insects. Although other insects, including cucumber, scarab, and meloid beetles, flies and moths are also involved, bees are the major pollinators.