.svg){kind=logo}
 (3).jpg)
Transcript: Beetles?!?
(Bright music plays)
A child says, WHEE!
(Giggling)
Text reads, tvokids + Fifth Ground Entertainment Original.
A bee buzzes over a title that reads, Leo’s Pollinators.
Leo says, IT'S ME, LEO!
Leo is a red and blue fish that swims at the bottom of a lake in front of two monitors with the Leo’s Pollinators logo displayed.
Leo says, THE EXPLORER CLUB
IS ON A NEW MISSION.
Text reads, Leo’s Pollinators Explorer’s Club. TVOkids Presents.
Leo says, WE'RE HELPING THE POLLINATORS,
THOSE AMAZING CREATURES
WHO MOVE POLLEN
FROM ONE PLANT TO ANOTHER.
Videos play of worms, bees, bats, butterflies, lemurs and moths.
Leo says, POLLEN IS THE STUFF
THAT HELPS MAKE OUR FRUITS,
VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS.
WITHOUT OUR POLLINATORS FLYING,
BUZZING AND SLITHERING AROUND,
WE'D ALL BE GOING HUNGRY,
EVEN ME!
A bee pollinates a pink flower. Text reads, ‘Nator Navigator.
Leo says, HOUSTEN AND CHLOE ARE IN THE
FIELD HELPING THE EXPERTS,
SO GRAB YOUR BOOTS
AND YOUR NET,
AND YOU CAN BE A POLLINHEAD
TOO.
The Leo’s Pollinators Explorer Club logo is displayed. Leo swims up to the two monitors in the lake.
Leo says, AM I LATE? PHEW!
I MADE IT.
I TOTALLY FORGOT THERE WAS
A MISSION TODAY!
'NATOR NAVIGATOR,
REVEAL TO ME
TODAY'S POLLINATING SPECIES!
A video of black and yellow striped beetles is displayed.
Leo says, NO, NO, BEETLES AREN'T
POLLINATORS.
IT MUST BE A GLITCH.
LET ME TRY THIS AGAIN.
(Clears throat)
Leo says, 'NATOR NAVIGATOR,
REVEAL TO ME TODAY'S
POLLINATING SPECIES!
A pink and black beetle is displayed.
Leo says, A BEETLE.
WELL, LET'S JUST SEE
HOW THIS PLAYS OUT.
HERE'S WHAT I DO KNOW”
BEETLES ARE A GROUP OF INSETS
CATEGORIZED
BY THEIR PAIR OF FRONT WINGS
THAT ARE HARDENED INTO SHELLS.
THESE WING SHELLS PROTECT
THE MORE FRAGILE FLYING WINGS
THAT ARE FOLDED BENEATH.
THERE ARE OVER 400,000
SPECIES OF BEETLES,
MAKING THEM THE LARGEST
CATEGORY OF INSECTS
ON THE PLANET!
Different types of beetles are displayed on Leo’s monitor. A book floats down to the bottom of the lake.
Leo says, LISTEN TO THIS...
Leo looks at the book. A green beetle is displayed.
Leo says, …BEETLES ARE ATTRACTED
TO PLANTS THAT FLOWER,
ESPECIALLY ONES
WITH STRONG SCENTS.
SOME BEETLES VISIT THE FLOWERS
TO EAT POLLEN OR NECTAR,
SOME EAT THE ACTUAL
FLOWER PETALS,
AND OTHERS EAT OTHER
VISITING INSECTS,
OR EVEN THE POOP
LEFT ON THE FLOWERS
BY OTHER CREATURES!
More types of beetles are displayed on Leo’s monitor.
Leo says, EWW!
SO, FROM WHAT I'M READING,
I GUESS POLLINATING BEETLES
ARE EVERYWHERE?
WELL, FORTUNATELY CHLOE
AND HOUSTEN
WILL BE GETTING TO THE BOTTOM
OF THIS.
Housten wears an orange Explorer’s Club shirt and denim shorts. Chloe wears a green Explorer’s Club shirt and black shorts. She swings a bug net. She and Housten laugh.
Leo says, AND THEY'RE MEETING UP WITH
ENTOMOLOGISTS PAT AND ANTONIA.
Pat has short greying hair and a beard. He wears a green plaid button down shirt over a grey shirt. Antonia has short brown hair and wears a white shirt decorated with bugs.
Leo says, THEY'LL BE CHECKING OUT SOME
COOL BEETLE SPECIMENS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD,
AND THEN SEE IF THEY'LL SEE
WHAT COOL BEETLES WE MIGHT HAVE
RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
BUT BEETLES AS POLLINATORS?
LET'S JUST SEE WHAT THE EXPERTS
HAVE TO SAY.
Leo’s book floats away. Leo turns toward the monitor. A building plaque reads, Èdifice K.W. Neatby, Direction De La Recherche.
(Soft music plays)
Pat stands at a picnic table outside the building with Chloe and Housten.
He says, POLLINHEADS, DID YOU KNOW
THAT ONE SPECIES OF ANIMAL
OUT OF FOUR IS A BEETLE?
Text reads, Dr. Patrice Bouchard, Canadian National Collection, Entomologist.
Chloe says, I WOULD'VE THOUGHT THAT IT
MIGHT'VE BEEN LIKE A MAMMAL.
Pat says, WELL, THERE ARE 400,000
SPECIES OF BEETLES
ON THE PLANET THAT ARE KNOWN,
THAT IS 40 TIMES MORE THAN
THE NUMBER OF SPECIES OF BIRDS.
A pie graph compares 400,000 beetles to 10,000 birds.
Pat says, AND WE HAVE 8,000 SPECIES
OF BEETLES HERE IN CANADA.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE SOME?
Together, Chloe and Housten say, YEAH!
Pat says, OKAY, LET'S TAKE
A LOOK AT THEM.
ONE, TWO, THREE...
Chloe and Pat pull back sheets covering glass display cases full of beetles.
Chloe and Housten say, WHOA!
Pat says, YOU SEE THE DIFFERENT SHAPES
AND COLOURS.
Chloe says, HEY, THIS ONE LOOKS LIKE
IT'S GOT SPIKES ON ITS BACK.
Pat says, THOSE ARE ACTUALLY TUFTS
OF HAIR.
ALL OF THESE CAN BE COVERED
IN POLLEN
WHEN THEY'RE VISITING FLOWERS,
AND SO THEY CAN TAKE POLLEN
FROM ONE FLOWER TO ANOTHER.
Housten says, I DIDN'T KNOW BEETLES
COULD POLLINATE AT ALL.
Chloe says, EVEN LEO DIDN'T KNOW.
Housten chuckles.
Pat says, ACTUALLY, BEETLES HAVE BEEN
POLLINATING PLANTS
FOR MORE THAN A HUNDRED
MILLION YEARS.
Housten says, THAT'S A LONG TIME.
Text reads, Did You Know?
Chloe says, DID YOU KNOW THAT
BEETLES HAVE BEEN POLLINATING
SINCE THE TIME
OF THE DINOSAURS?
She stands in front of a chalkboard wearing a purple Explorer’s Club shirt. Text on the chalkboard reads, Beetles = Ancient Pollinators.
Chloe says, SCIENTISTS HAVE ALWAYS
SUSPECTED THAT BEETLES
WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAST
GROWTH OF MANY FLOWERS
100 MILLION YEARS AGO,
WHEN DINOSAURS ROAMED
THE EARTH.
Beside a dinosaur and a beetle, text reads, Cretaceous Period.
Chloe says, BUT THERE WAS NEVER ANY PROOF
FOR THEIR THEORIES.
UNTIL RECENTLY, WHEN A GROUP
OF PALEONTOLOGISTS
WERE OUT LOOKING FOR DINOSAUR
BONES,
THEY FOUND A TINY BEETLE
THAT WAS PRESERVED,
AND HAD POLLEN STUCK
ALL OVER IT.
AFTER LOTS OF STUDIES,
SCIENTISTS DISCOVERED
THAT THE BEETLE PICKED UP
THE POLLEN
OVER 99 MILLION YEARS AGO!
Chloe looks impressed.
She says, THIS SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY
IS THE OLDEST EXAMPLE
OF POLLINATION NOT ONLY
BY A BEETLE,
BUT BY ANY CREATURE
ON THE PLANET,
PROVING THAT BEETLES
ARE THE OLDEST
AND MOST ANCIENT POLLINATORS
OF THEM ALL!
NOW YOU KNOW.
At the picnic table, Housten says, CHLOE, LOOK AT THAT ONE,
IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS JEWELRY
ON IT!
He points to a beetle in the display case.
Chloe says, THOSE ARE SO COOL!
Two beetles have jewels on them. A tag reads, Zopherus nodulosus Solier, Mexicp.
Pat says, IN MEXICO, PEOPLE PUT
JEWELS ON LIVE BEETLES,
AND THEY WEAR THEM
AS A LIVE BROACH.
SO THEY PUT THE JEWELS ON THEM,
AND THEY ATTACH THEM
TO THEIR CLOTHING,
AND THE BEETLES WALK AROUND,
AND THESE BEETLES LIVE
MANY YEARS.
Chloe says, I THINK IT COULD BE PRETTY.
Pat says, ACTUALLY, THESE ARE JEWELLED
BEETLES,
BUT THERE'S A GROUP CALLED
JEWEL BEETLES.
AND THESE ALL FLY
FROM FLOWER TO FLOWER,
AND ARE ACTUALLY GOOD
POLLINATORS.
Chloe says, PAT, I THINK THESE TWO
ARE MY FAVOURITES.
She points to two of the colourful jewel beetles from Indonesia and Australia.
Pat says, YEAH, THEY ARE VERY NICE.
Pat takes the glass cover off the display case. Chloe and Housten each pick a beetle species from the case.
Pat says, LET'S TAKE A LOOK WITH
A LITTLE HAND LENES,
AND LOOK AT THESE BEAUTIFUL
BEETLES.
Housten uses a hand lenes.
He says, OKAY.
He takes a close look at a beetle.
He says, WHOA!
Chloe asks, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE,
HOUSTEN?
Housten says, IT KINDA LOOKS LIKE
A RAINBOW BAT.
He looks at a jewel beetle.
He says, THAT'S CRAZY! YOU SHOULD TAKE
A LOOK, CHLOE.
He hands Chloe the hand lenes.
Chloe says, YES, PLEASE.
Housten chuckles. Chloe looks at the jewel beetle
She says, WHOA! IT'S SO COLOURFUL!
Housten says, I KNOW, RIGHT?
Chloe says, THESE ARE ALL SO COOL,
BUT THESE AREN'T THE BEETLES
THAT WE'D FIND IN CANADA, RIGHT?
Pat says, THESE ARE ACTUALLY
TROPICAL BEETLES.
THE BEETLES THAT POLLINATE
FLOWERS IN CANADA
ARE ACTUALLY MUCH SMALLER.
CHECK OUT THIS LITTLE GUY HERE.
A beetle is tagged with a label that reads, Buprestis Aurulenta, British Columbia.
Housten says, IT LOOKS LIKE
A SMALL PIECE OF DIRT.
Chloe says, I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE A TICK.
Housten asks, DO YOU THINK WE'LL BE ABLE
TO FIND SOME?
Pat says, WELL, IT'S GONNA BE
DIFFICULT,
BUT WITH A LITTLE BIT
OF TRAINING,
I THINK YOU MIGHT BE ABLE
TO FIND SOME.
He swings a bug net in a field with Housten and Chloe.
He says, YOU WANT TO USE THESE LONG,
SWEEPING MOTIONS.
Pat demonstrates how to swing the net, sweeping it back and forth. He hands the net to Housten.
Housten says, LIKE THIS?
He quickly sweeps the net back and forth.
Pat says, WOW, HOUSTEN, YOU'RE A PRO.
(Giggling)
Housten says, HERE, CHLOE.
He hands Chloe the net.
Chloe says, THANKS.
Pat says, YOU WANNA FLICK YOUR WRIST
AND TWIST THE NET,
SO THAT YOUR TARGET
WON'T ESCAPE.
Chloe says, FLICK AND TWIST!
She practices the move with the net.
Housten sings, FLICK AND TWIST.
FLICKY, FLICKY, TWIST!
Chloe dances with a flick and twist of the net. She and Housten laugh.
Pat says, GREAT JOB.
NOW, LET'S TRY SOMETHING
DIFFERENT.
IT'S CALLED THE BEAT SHEET.
Leo watches Chloe with the net on a monitor.
Leo says, FLICK AND TWIST.
FLICK AND TWIST.
HEY-O!
I THINK WE'VE FOUND
THE POLLINATORS
SIGNATURE DANCE MOVE!
Pat walks alongside a bush with a large canvas.
He says, A BEAT SHEET IS ACTUALLY
A GREAT WAY TO FIND INSECTS
THAT ARE HIDING IN BUSHES
OR TREE BRANCHES.
Pat stands in tall grass near other tall bushes.
He says, WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS PUT
THE CANVAS UNDER THE BRANCH…
Chloe holds the canvas under a branch.
Pat says, …AND THEN WITH ONE HAND,
TAP THE BRANCHES REALLY
GENTLY...
He gently taps the branches with a wooden pole. The branches rustle.
Pat says, …SO THAT THE BEETLES
OR OTHER INSECTS THAT ARE
HIDING
WILL FALL ONTO THE SHEET.
Chloe says, KINDA LIKE A PINATA.
Pat asks, HERE, DO YOU WANT TO TRY,
HOUSTEN?
Housten says, YEAH!
Pat hands Housten the pole. Housten taps the branches with the pole. Chloe laughs. Something falls onto the canvas.
Chloe says, WHOA!
Pat says, OH! I THINK WE GOT SOMETHING!
He sucks a bug off the canvas using a straw-like tool.
Chloe asks, WHAT DID YOU JUST DO?
Pat sucks THIS IS A TOOL THAT I USE
IN THE FIELD ALL THE TIME.
THIS IS CALLED AN ASPIRATOR.
I USE MY BREATH...
He imitates inhaling with the aspirator
Pat says, …TO SUCK UP LIVE INSECTS
INTO THIS VIAL.
The bug is captured in a small vial in the aspirator.
Pat says, THIS IS IN FACT AN EARWIG.
Chloe and Housten say, EWW!
Pat says, DEFINITELY NOT A POLLINATING
BEETLE.
BUT WITH YOUR GOOD TECHNIQUES,
I THINK YOU'RE GOING
TO COMPLETE YOUR MISSION.
GOOD LUCK, POLLINHEADS.
Housten says, THANKS!
Leo says, OKAY, OKAY.
SO BEETLES ARE IMPORTANT
POLLINATORS ACROSS THE GLOBE.
Text reads, What’s the Buzz? With Leo.
Leo says, BUT WHAT ABOUT HERE IN CANADA?
THERE ARE A FEW POLLINATING
BEETLE SPECIES IN CANADA,
LIKE THE GNORIMELA MACULOSA,
AND THE TRICHIOTINUS ASSIMILUS,
OR HAIRY FLOWER SCARAB BEETLE.
Pictures of the different types of beetles are displayed.
Leo says, BUT TODAY THE POLLINHEADS
WILL SEARCH
FOR THE EUPHORIA INDA,
OR THE BUMBLE FLOWER BEETLE.
IT IS THE ONLY BEETLE
YOU CAN FIND POLLINATING
IN THE LATE SUMMER MONTHS.
ANTONIA, FROM THE ROYAL
ONTARIO MUSEUM,
IS HERE TO GUIDE HOUSTEN
AND CHLOE IN THEIR MISSION
TO FIND THE ELUSIVE BUMBLE
FLOWER BEETLE.
SHOW US THE GOODS, ANTONIA!
A field is covered in tall grass and flowers. A butterfly rests on a purple flower.
A person says, TO SEARCH FOR
POLLINATING BEETLES
AT THIS TIME OF YEAR,
WE HAVE TO LOOK FOR FLOWERS
THAT ARE STILL IN BLOOM.
The person, a woman, walks down a trail between Chloe and Housten. Text reads, Antonia Guidotti, Royal Ontario Museum, Entomologist.
Antonia says, ONE OF THE SPECIES
THAT WE MIGHT FIND
IS THE BUMBLE FLOWER BEETLE.
Housten says, BUMBLE FLOWER BEETLE?
Antonia says, MM-HMM.
She nods.
Chloe asks, DOES THAT MEAN IT LOOKS
LIKE A BUMBLEBEE?
Antonia says, NO IT ACTUALLY IS A BIT
BROWN AND BLACK,
BUT IT DOES SOUND A BIT LIKE
A BUMBLEBEE WITH ITS BUZZING.
Chloe says, A BUZZY BEETLE?
GOT IT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHERS WE CAN
LOOK FOR?
Antonia says, YES, THERE ARE LOTS
OF POLLINATING BEETLES.
THE LOCUST BORER LIKES TO EAT
GOLDENROD POLLEN.
AND THERE'S LOTS AND LOTS
OF GOLDENROD OUT,
SO I THINK WE SHOULD HUNT
FOR THOSE.
Chloe says, LET'S GO!
She, Housten and Antonia search for beetles in the field. Antonia uses a net. Chloe uses the canvas and Housten uses an umbrella to try and catch bugs. Antonia captures a beetle in a container.
She says, HEY, POLLINHEADS, COME!
I FOUND ONE!
Housten and Chloe run over to Antonia.
They say, WHOA!
Housten asks, WHAT IS IT?
Antonia says, IT'S A LOCUST BORER.
I JUST FOUND IT
ON THIS GOLDENROD,
IT WAS EATING THE POLLEN.
WE ARE PRETTY LUCKY
TO HAVE SEEN THIS ONE.
THEY'RE SOMETIMES HARD TO FIND.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE ANTENNAE,
YOU'LL SEE HOW LONG THEY ARE.
SO THIS GROUP IS CALLED
LONGHORN BEETLES.
Chloe says, IT REALLY DOESN'T LOOK
LIKE THEY TYPE OF BUG
THAT COULD FLY.
Antonia says, WELL, MOST BEETLES CAN FLY,
BECAUSE THEY HAVE TWO SETS
OF WINGS.
THE OUTER WINGS, THOUGH,
ARE REALLY HARD.
AND IT'S THE INNER WINGS
THAT HELP IT TO FLY.
Housten says, THAT MAKES SENSE,
BECAUSE MOST INSECTS HAVE FOUR
WINGS, EXCEPT FLIES.
Antonia says, YOU ARE GOOD, HOUSTEN,
YOU KNOW YOUR STUFF.
AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT FLIES
FROM GOLDENROD TO GOLDENROD,
AND IT BRINGS POLLEN
TO THE DIFFERENT FLOWERS.
Chloe says, IT'S SURPRISING THAT EVEN LEO
DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS BUG.
Housten nods.
Antonia says, NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT
BEETLES ARE POLLINATORS,
BUT YOU NEED ALL KINDS
OF DIFFERENT GROUPS OF INSECTS
TO POLLINATE ALL OF OUR PLANTS
AND FLOWERS.
Housten says, THANKS FOR HELPING US
PROVE IT TO LEO, ANTONIA.
Antonia says, YOU'RE WELCOME.
Chloe says, LET'S HIGH FLY.
She, Housten and Antonia wiggle their fingers then raise their hands above their heads.
Together they say, HIIIIGH FLY!
Housten nearly falls backwards.
He says, WHOA!
He stops himself from flying.
Chloe says, DON'T FALL OVER!
(Laughing)
Leo watches a beetle on the monitor.
Leo says, UH, IT'S NOT THAT
I DIDN'T BELIEVE
BEETLES COULD POLLINATE,
I JUST WASN'T WELL-INFORMED.
BUT NOW I KNOW FOR SURE,
BEETLES ARE AWESOME
POLLINATORS.
HEY, A CATFISH ISN'T GOING
TO BE RIGHT ALL THE TIME.
EVEN ME.
POLLINHEADS ALERT!
A flower reads, PollinHeads Alert!
Leo says, IF YOU WANT TO SEE SOME
POLLINATING BEETLES
FOR YOURSELF,
IT'S TIME TO GET GARDENING!
BEETLE POLLINATORS REALLY LIKE
STRONG-SCENTED FLOWERS
WITH BIG PETALS.
VIBURNUM AND YARROW
ARE POLLEN-TABULOUS CHOICES
FOR THE GARDEN.
YOU CAN ALSO TRY MAKING A HOME
FOR BEETLES TO LIVE
OVER THE WINTER,
BY LEAVING A PILE OF FALL
LEAVES IN YOUR YARD.
THE BUMBLE FLOWER BEETLE
IS AN ADULT
BY THE TIME WINTER COMES,
SO IT NEEDS A NICE, WARM,
COZY PLACE TO SPEND THE WINTER.
IF YOU GIVE THE BUMBLE FLOWER
BEETLE A WINTER HOME,
YOU ARE WAY MORE LIKELY
TO SPOT ONE IN THE SPRING.
Leo swims in a circle.
Leo says, LUCKY YOU!
LEMURS, MOTHS, BATS, LIZARDS,
AND NOW BEETLES ARE ADDED
TO THE LIST.
POLLINATORS NEVER CEASE
TO AMAZE ME.
(Bright music plays)
Leo watches credits roll on a monitor.
Directed by Melissa Peters.
Written by Melissa Peters.
Created by Karen Hawes and Christopher Szarka.
Produced by Christopher Szarka and Raj Panikkar.
With Naomi Melvin as ‘Leo’ and Chloe Drayton and Housten Daghighi.
Produced in Association with tvokids.
Fifth Ground Entertainment.
A child says, WHEE!
(Giggling)
Text reads, tvokids + Fifth Ground Entertainment Original.
A bee buzzes over a title that reads, Leo’s Pollinators.
Leo says, IT'S ME, LEO!
Leo is a red and blue fish that swims at the bottom of a lake in front of two monitors with the Leo’s Pollinators logo displayed.
Leo says, THE EXPLORER CLUB
IS ON A NEW MISSION.
Text reads, Leo’s Pollinators Explorer’s Club. TVOkids Presents.
Leo says, WE'RE HELPING THE POLLINATORS,
THOSE AMAZING CREATURES
WHO MOVE POLLEN
FROM ONE PLANT TO ANOTHER.
Videos play of worms, bees, bats, butterflies, lemurs and moths.
Leo says, POLLEN IS THE STUFF
THAT HELPS MAKE OUR FRUITS,
VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS.
WITHOUT OUR POLLINATORS FLYING,
BUZZING AND SLITHERING AROUND,
WE'D ALL BE GOING HUNGRY,
EVEN ME!
A bee pollinates a pink flower. Text reads, ‘Nator Navigator.
Leo says, HOUSTEN AND CHLOE ARE IN THE
FIELD HELPING THE EXPERTS,
SO GRAB YOUR BOOTS
AND YOUR NET,
AND YOU CAN BE A POLLINHEAD
TOO.
The Leo’s Pollinators Explorer Club logo is displayed. Leo swims up to the two monitors in the lake.
Leo says, AM I LATE? PHEW!
I MADE IT.
I TOTALLY FORGOT THERE WAS
A MISSION TODAY!
'NATOR NAVIGATOR,
REVEAL TO ME
TODAY'S POLLINATING SPECIES!
A video of black and yellow striped beetles is displayed.
Leo says, NO, NO, BEETLES AREN'T
POLLINATORS.
IT MUST BE A GLITCH.
LET ME TRY THIS AGAIN.
(Clears throat)
Leo says, 'NATOR NAVIGATOR,
REVEAL TO ME TODAY'S
POLLINATING SPECIES!
A pink and black beetle is displayed.
Leo says, A BEETLE.
WELL, LET'S JUST SEE
HOW THIS PLAYS OUT.
HERE'S WHAT I DO KNOW”
BEETLES ARE A GROUP OF INSETS
CATEGORIZED
BY THEIR PAIR OF FRONT WINGS
THAT ARE HARDENED INTO SHELLS.
THESE WING SHELLS PROTECT
THE MORE FRAGILE FLYING WINGS
THAT ARE FOLDED BENEATH.
THERE ARE OVER 400,000
SPECIES OF BEETLES,
MAKING THEM THE LARGEST
CATEGORY OF INSECTS
ON THE PLANET!
Different types of beetles are displayed on Leo’s monitor. A book floats down to the bottom of the lake.
Leo says, LISTEN TO THIS...
Leo looks at the book. A green beetle is displayed.
Leo says, …BEETLES ARE ATTRACTED
TO PLANTS THAT FLOWER,
ESPECIALLY ONES
WITH STRONG SCENTS.
SOME BEETLES VISIT THE FLOWERS
TO EAT POLLEN OR NECTAR,
SOME EAT THE ACTUAL
FLOWER PETALS,
AND OTHERS EAT OTHER
VISITING INSECTS,
OR EVEN THE POOP
LEFT ON THE FLOWERS
BY OTHER CREATURES!
More types of beetles are displayed on Leo’s monitor.
Leo says, EWW!
SO, FROM WHAT I'M READING,
I GUESS POLLINATING BEETLES
ARE EVERYWHERE?
WELL, FORTUNATELY CHLOE
AND HOUSTEN
WILL BE GETTING TO THE BOTTOM
OF THIS.
Housten wears an orange Explorer’s Club shirt and denim shorts. Chloe wears a green Explorer’s Club shirt and black shorts. She swings a bug net. She and Housten laugh.
Leo says, AND THEY'RE MEETING UP WITH
ENTOMOLOGISTS PAT AND ANTONIA.
Pat has short greying hair and a beard. He wears a green plaid button down shirt over a grey shirt. Antonia has short brown hair and wears a white shirt decorated with bugs.
Leo says, THEY'LL BE CHECKING OUT SOME
COOL BEETLE SPECIMENS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD,
AND THEN SEE IF THEY'LL SEE
WHAT COOL BEETLES WE MIGHT HAVE
RIGHT HERE AT HOME.
BUT BEETLES AS POLLINATORS?
LET'S JUST SEE WHAT THE EXPERTS
HAVE TO SAY.
Leo’s book floats away. Leo turns toward the monitor. A building plaque reads, Èdifice K.W. Neatby, Direction De La Recherche.
(Soft music plays)
Pat stands at a picnic table outside the building with Chloe and Housten.
He says, POLLINHEADS, DID YOU KNOW
THAT ONE SPECIES OF ANIMAL
OUT OF FOUR IS A BEETLE?
Text reads, Dr. Patrice Bouchard, Canadian National Collection, Entomologist.
Chloe says, I WOULD'VE THOUGHT THAT IT
MIGHT'VE BEEN LIKE A MAMMAL.
Pat says, WELL, THERE ARE 400,000
SPECIES OF BEETLES
ON THE PLANET THAT ARE KNOWN,
THAT IS 40 TIMES MORE THAN
THE NUMBER OF SPECIES OF BIRDS.
A pie graph compares 400,000 beetles to 10,000 birds.
Pat says, AND WE HAVE 8,000 SPECIES
OF BEETLES HERE IN CANADA.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE SOME?
Together, Chloe and Housten say, YEAH!
Pat says, OKAY, LET'S TAKE
A LOOK AT THEM.
ONE, TWO, THREE...
Chloe and Pat pull back sheets covering glass display cases full of beetles.
Chloe and Housten say, WHOA!
Pat says, YOU SEE THE DIFFERENT SHAPES
AND COLOURS.
Chloe says, HEY, THIS ONE LOOKS LIKE
IT'S GOT SPIKES ON ITS BACK.
Pat says, THOSE ARE ACTUALLY TUFTS
OF HAIR.
ALL OF THESE CAN BE COVERED
IN POLLEN
WHEN THEY'RE VISITING FLOWERS,
AND SO THEY CAN TAKE POLLEN
FROM ONE FLOWER TO ANOTHER.
Housten says, I DIDN'T KNOW BEETLES
COULD POLLINATE AT ALL.
Chloe says, EVEN LEO DIDN'T KNOW.
Housten chuckles.
Pat says, ACTUALLY, BEETLES HAVE BEEN
POLLINATING PLANTS
FOR MORE THAN A HUNDRED
MILLION YEARS.
Housten says, THAT'S A LONG TIME.
Text reads, Did You Know?
Chloe says, DID YOU KNOW THAT
BEETLES HAVE BEEN POLLINATING
SINCE THE TIME
OF THE DINOSAURS?
She stands in front of a chalkboard wearing a purple Explorer’s Club shirt. Text on the chalkboard reads, Beetles = Ancient Pollinators.
Chloe says, SCIENTISTS HAVE ALWAYS
SUSPECTED THAT BEETLES
WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FAST
GROWTH OF MANY FLOWERS
100 MILLION YEARS AGO,
WHEN DINOSAURS ROAMED
THE EARTH.
Beside a dinosaur and a beetle, text reads, Cretaceous Period.
Chloe says, BUT THERE WAS NEVER ANY PROOF
FOR THEIR THEORIES.
UNTIL RECENTLY, WHEN A GROUP
OF PALEONTOLOGISTS
WERE OUT LOOKING FOR DINOSAUR
BONES,
THEY FOUND A TINY BEETLE
THAT WAS PRESERVED,
AND HAD POLLEN STUCK
ALL OVER IT.
AFTER LOTS OF STUDIES,
SCIENTISTS DISCOVERED
THAT THE BEETLE PICKED UP
THE POLLEN
OVER 99 MILLION YEARS AGO!
Chloe looks impressed.
She says, THIS SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY
IS THE OLDEST EXAMPLE
OF POLLINATION NOT ONLY
BY A BEETLE,
BUT BY ANY CREATURE
ON THE PLANET,
PROVING THAT BEETLES
ARE THE OLDEST
AND MOST ANCIENT POLLINATORS
OF THEM ALL!
NOW YOU KNOW.
At the picnic table, Housten says, CHLOE, LOOK AT THAT ONE,
IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS JEWELRY
ON IT!
He points to a beetle in the display case.
Chloe says, THOSE ARE SO COOL!
Two beetles have jewels on them. A tag reads, Zopherus nodulosus Solier, Mexicp.
Pat says, IN MEXICO, PEOPLE PUT
JEWELS ON LIVE BEETLES,
AND THEY WEAR THEM
AS A LIVE BROACH.
SO THEY PUT THE JEWELS ON THEM,
AND THEY ATTACH THEM
TO THEIR CLOTHING,
AND THE BEETLES WALK AROUND,
AND THESE BEETLES LIVE
MANY YEARS.
Chloe says, I THINK IT COULD BE PRETTY.
Pat says, ACTUALLY, THESE ARE JEWELLED
BEETLES,
BUT THERE'S A GROUP CALLED
JEWEL BEETLES.
AND THESE ALL FLY
FROM FLOWER TO FLOWER,
AND ARE ACTUALLY GOOD
POLLINATORS.
Chloe says, PAT, I THINK THESE TWO
ARE MY FAVOURITES.
She points to two of the colourful jewel beetles from Indonesia and Australia.
Pat says, YEAH, THEY ARE VERY NICE.
Pat takes the glass cover off the display case. Chloe and Housten each pick a beetle species from the case.
Pat says, LET'S TAKE A LOOK WITH
A LITTLE HAND LENES,
AND LOOK AT THESE BEAUTIFUL
BEETLES.
Housten uses a hand lenes.
He says, OKAY.
He takes a close look at a beetle.
He says, WHOA!
Chloe asks, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE,
HOUSTEN?
Housten says, IT KINDA LOOKS LIKE
A RAINBOW BAT.
He looks at a jewel beetle.
He says, THAT'S CRAZY! YOU SHOULD TAKE
A LOOK, CHLOE.
He hands Chloe the hand lenes.
Chloe says, YES, PLEASE.
Housten chuckles. Chloe looks at the jewel beetle
She says, WHOA! IT'S SO COLOURFUL!
Housten says, I KNOW, RIGHT?
Chloe says, THESE ARE ALL SO COOL,
BUT THESE AREN'T THE BEETLES
THAT WE'D FIND IN CANADA, RIGHT?
Pat says, THESE ARE ACTUALLY
TROPICAL BEETLES.
THE BEETLES THAT POLLINATE
FLOWERS IN CANADA
ARE ACTUALLY MUCH SMALLER.
CHECK OUT THIS LITTLE GUY HERE.
A beetle is tagged with a label that reads, Buprestis Aurulenta, British Columbia.
Housten says, IT LOOKS LIKE
A SMALL PIECE OF DIRT.
Chloe says, I THINK IT LOOKS LIKE A TICK.
Housten asks, DO YOU THINK WE'LL BE ABLE
TO FIND SOME?
Pat says, WELL, IT'S GONNA BE
DIFFICULT,
BUT WITH A LITTLE BIT
OF TRAINING,
I THINK YOU MIGHT BE ABLE
TO FIND SOME.
He swings a bug net in a field with Housten and Chloe.
He says, YOU WANT TO USE THESE LONG,
SWEEPING MOTIONS.
Pat demonstrates how to swing the net, sweeping it back and forth. He hands the net to Housten.
Housten says, LIKE THIS?
He quickly sweeps the net back and forth.
Pat says, WOW, HOUSTEN, YOU'RE A PRO.
(Giggling)
Housten says, HERE, CHLOE.
He hands Chloe the net.
Chloe says, THANKS.
Pat says, YOU WANNA FLICK YOUR WRIST
AND TWIST THE NET,
SO THAT YOUR TARGET
WON'T ESCAPE.
Chloe says, FLICK AND TWIST!
She practices the move with the net.
Housten sings, FLICK AND TWIST.
FLICKY, FLICKY, TWIST!
Chloe dances with a flick and twist of the net. She and Housten laugh.
Pat says, GREAT JOB.
NOW, LET'S TRY SOMETHING
DIFFERENT.
IT'S CALLED THE BEAT SHEET.
Leo watches Chloe with the net on a monitor.
Leo says, FLICK AND TWIST.
FLICK AND TWIST.
HEY-O!
I THINK WE'VE FOUND
THE POLLINATORS
SIGNATURE DANCE MOVE!
Pat walks alongside a bush with a large canvas.
He says, A BEAT SHEET IS ACTUALLY
A GREAT WAY TO FIND INSECTS
THAT ARE HIDING IN BUSHES
OR TREE BRANCHES.
Pat stands in tall grass near other tall bushes.
He says, WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS PUT
THE CANVAS UNDER THE BRANCH…
Chloe holds the canvas under a branch.
Pat says, …AND THEN WITH ONE HAND,
TAP THE BRANCHES REALLY
GENTLY...
He gently taps the branches with a wooden pole. The branches rustle.
Pat says, …SO THAT THE BEETLES
OR OTHER INSECTS THAT ARE
HIDING
WILL FALL ONTO THE SHEET.
Chloe says, KINDA LIKE A PINATA.
Pat asks, HERE, DO YOU WANT TO TRY,
HOUSTEN?
Housten says, YEAH!
Pat hands Housten the pole. Housten taps the branches with the pole. Chloe laughs. Something falls onto the canvas.
Chloe says, WHOA!
Pat says, OH! I THINK WE GOT SOMETHING!
He sucks a bug off the canvas using a straw-like tool.
Chloe asks, WHAT DID YOU JUST DO?
Pat sucks THIS IS A TOOL THAT I USE
IN THE FIELD ALL THE TIME.
THIS IS CALLED AN ASPIRATOR.
I USE MY BREATH...
He imitates inhaling with the aspirator
Pat says, …TO SUCK UP LIVE INSECTS
INTO THIS VIAL.
The bug is captured in a small vial in the aspirator.
Pat says, THIS IS IN FACT AN EARWIG.
Chloe and Housten say, EWW!
Pat says, DEFINITELY NOT A POLLINATING
BEETLE.
BUT WITH YOUR GOOD TECHNIQUES,
I THINK YOU'RE GOING
TO COMPLETE YOUR MISSION.
GOOD LUCK, POLLINHEADS.
Housten says, THANKS!
Leo says, OKAY, OKAY.
SO BEETLES ARE IMPORTANT
POLLINATORS ACROSS THE GLOBE.
Text reads, What’s the Buzz? With Leo.
Leo says, BUT WHAT ABOUT HERE IN CANADA?
THERE ARE A FEW POLLINATING
BEETLE SPECIES IN CANADA,
LIKE THE GNORIMELA MACULOSA,
AND THE TRICHIOTINUS ASSIMILUS,
OR HAIRY FLOWER SCARAB BEETLE.
Pictures of the different types of beetles are displayed.
Leo says, BUT TODAY THE POLLINHEADS
WILL SEARCH
FOR THE EUPHORIA INDA,
OR THE BUMBLE FLOWER BEETLE.
IT IS THE ONLY BEETLE
YOU CAN FIND POLLINATING
IN THE LATE SUMMER MONTHS.
ANTONIA, FROM THE ROYAL
ONTARIO MUSEUM,
IS HERE TO GUIDE HOUSTEN
AND CHLOE IN THEIR MISSION
TO FIND THE ELUSIVE BUMBLE
FLOWER BEETLE.
SHOW US THE GOODS, ANTONIA!
A field is covered in tall grass and flowers. A butterfly rests on a purple flower.
A person says, TO SEARCH FOR
POLLINATING BEETLES
AT THIS TIME OF YEAR,
WE HAVE TO LOOK FOR FLOWERS
THAT ARE STILL IN BLOOM.
The person, a woman, walks down a trail between Chloe and Housten. Text reads, Antonia Guidotti, Royal Ontario Museum, Entomologist.
Antonia says, ONE OF THE SPECIES
THAT WE MIGHT FIND
IS THE BUMBLE FLOWER BEETLE.
Housten says, BUMBLE FLOWER BEETLE?
Antonia says, MM-HMM.
She nods.
Chloe asks, DOES THAT MEAN IT LOOKS
LIKE A BUMBLEBEE?
Antonia says, NO IT ACTUALLY IS A BIT
BROWN AND BLACK,
BUT IT DOES SOUND A BIT LIKE
A BUMBLEBEE WITH ITS BUZZING.
Chloe says, A BUZZY BEETLE?
GOT IT.
ARE THERE ANY OTHERS WE CAN
LOOK FOR?
Antonia says, YES, THERE ARE LOTS
OF POLLINATING BEETLES.
THE LOCUST BORER LIKES TO EAT
GOLDENROD POLLEN.
AND THERE'S LOTS AND LOTS
OF GOLDENROD OUT,
SO I THINK WE SHOULD HUNT
FOR THOSE.
Chloe says, LET'S GO!
She, Housten and Antonia search for beetles in the field. Antonia uses a net. Chloe uses the canvas and Housten uses an umbrella to try and catch bugs. Antonia captures a beetle in a container.
She says, HEY, POLLINHEADS, COME!
I FOUND ONE!
Housten and Chloe run over to Antonia.
They say, WHOA!
Housten asks, WHAT IS IT?
Antonia says, IT'S A LOCUST BORER.
I JUST FOUND IT
ON THIS GOLDENROD,
IT WAS EATING THE POLLEN.
WE ARE PRETTY LUCKY
TO HAVE SEEN THIS ONE.
THEY'RE SOMETIMES HARD TO FIND.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT THE ANTENNAE,
YOU'LL SEE HOW LONG THEY ARE.
SO THIS GROUP IS CALLED
LONGHORN BEETLES.
Chloe says, IT REALLY DOESN'T LOOK
LIKE THEY TYPE OF BUG
THAT COULD FLY.
Antonia says, WELL, MOST BEETLES CAN FLY,
BECAUSE THEY HAVE TWO SETS
OF WINGS.
THE OUTER WINGS, THOUGH,
ARE REALLY HARD.
AND IT'S THE INNER WINGS
THAT HELP IT TO FLY.
Housten says, THAT MAKES SENSE,
BECAUSE MOST INSECTS HAVE FOUR
WINGS, EXCEPT FLIES.
Antonia says, YOU ARE GOOD, HOUSTEN,
YOU KNOW YOUR STUFF.
AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT FLIES
FROM GOLDENROD TO GOLDENROD,
AND IT BRINGS POLLEN
TO THE DIFFERENT FLOWERS.
Chloe says, IT'S SURPRISING THAT EVEN LEO
DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS BUG.
Housten nods.
Antonia says, NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW THAT
BEETLES ARE POLLINATORS,
BUT YOU NEED ALL KINDS
OF DIFFERENT GROUPS OF INSECTS
TO POLLINATE ALL OF OUR PLANTS
AND FLOWERS.
Housten says, THANKS FOR HELPING US
PROVE IT TO LEO, ANTONIA.
Antonia says, YOU'RE WELCOME.
Chloe says, LET'S HIGH FLY.
She, Housten and Antonia wiggle their fingers then raise their hands above their heads.
Together they say, HIIIIGH FLY!
Housten nearly falls backwards.
He says, WHOA!
He stops himself from flying.
Chloe says, DON'T FALL OVER!
(Laughing)
Leo watches a beetle on the monitor.
Leo says, UH, IT'S NOT THAT
I DIDN'T BELIEVE
BEETLES COULD POLLINATE,
I JUST WASN'T WELL-INFORMED.
BUT NOW I KNOW FOR SURE,
BEETLES ARE AWESOME
POLLINATORS.
HEY, A CATFISH ISN'T GOING
TO BE RIGHT ALL THE TIME.
EVEN ME.
POLLINHEADS ALERT!
A flower reads, PollinHeads Alert!
Leo says, IF YOU WANT TO SEE SOME
POLLINATING BEETLES
FOR YOURSELF,
IT'S TIME TO GET GARDENING!
BEETLE POLLINATORS REALLY LIKE
STRONG-SCENTED FLOWERS
WITH BIG PETALS.
VIBURNUM AND YARROW
ARE POLLEN-TABULOUS CHOICES
FOR THE GARDEN.
YOU CAN ALSO TRY MAKING A HOME
FOR BEETLES TO LIVE
OVER THE WINTER,
BY LEAVING A PILE OF FALL
LEAVES IN YOUR YARD.
THE BUMBLE FLOWER BEETLE
IS AN ADULT
BY THE TIME WINTER COMES,
SO IT NEEDS A NICE, WARM,
COZY PLACE TO SPEND THE WINTER.
IF YOU GIVE THE BUMBLE FLOWER
BEETLE A WINTER HOME,
YOU ARE WAY MORE LIKELY
TO SPOT ONE IN THE SPRING.
Leo swims in a circle.
Leo says, LUCKY YOU!
LEMURS, MOTHS, BATS, LIZARDS,
AND NOW BEETLES ARE ADDED
TO THE LIST.
POLLINATORS NEVER CEASE
TO AMAZE ME.
(Bright music plays)
Leo watches credits roll on a monitor.
Directed by Melissa Peters.
Written by Melissa Peters.
Created by Karen Hawes and Christopher Szarka.
Produced by Christopher Szarka and Raj Panikkar.
With Naomi Melvin as ‘Leo’ and Chloe Drayton and Housten Daghighi.
Produced in Association with tvokids.
Fifth Ground Entertainment.
You are now leaving TVOKids.com
TVOKids doesn't have control over the new place you're about to visit, so please make sure you get your Parent or Guardian's permission first!
Do you have permission from your Parents / Guardian to go to other websites?