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| Natural pollination via insects In places where cherimoya grow naturally there are small beetles that transfer pollen from flower to flower, but none of these beetles or other insects capable of transferring cherimoya pollen are present in New Zealand. Large insects like honey bees can’t enter flowers to pollinate due to the restrictive shape of the newly opened cherimoya flowers. The Carpophilus hemipterus L. beetle has been observed on cherimoya trees in New Zealand, but extensive studies over several seasons show they’re rarely seen on the flowers. Overseas studies show that smaller insects, particularly beetles from the Nitidulidae family, will transfer pollen between Annona spp. flowers, being attracted by the strong, sweet smell of the flower rather than the pollen. The success of beetles as pollinators is dependant on high temperatures, high humidity and the amount of decaying fruit and vegetation available as a food source.
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