TY - JOUR AU - Michelbacher, A. E. AU - Smith, Ray F. AU - Hurd, P. D. TI - Bees are essential: Pollination of squashes, gourds and pumpkins JF - California Agriculture JO - Calif Agr Y1 - 1964/05/01 VL - 18 IS - 5 SP - 2 EP - 4 PB - University of California Agriculture and Nature Resources SN - 0008-0845 UR - http://www.ucanr.edu/sites/calagjournal/archive/?article=ca.v018n05p2 AB - 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.