[Upbeat music plays]

Text reads, “TVOkids” and “Fifth Ground Entertainment” “Original.”

Child says, WEE!

[Giggling, buzzing]

Text reads, “Leo’s Pollinators.”

An animated bee flies over the text.

[Buzzing]

Leo, a blue and orange animated fish, says,
IT'S ME, LEO! THE EXPLORER
CLUB IS ON A NEW MISSION.

Text reads, “Leo’s Pollinators.” “TVOkids Presents.”

[Upbeat music plays, whooshing]

Leo says, WE'RE HELPING THE
POLLINATORS, THOSE AMAZING
CREATURES WHO MOVE POLLEN
FROM ONE PLANT TO ANOTHER.

POLLEN IS THE STUFF THAT HELPS
MAKE OUR FRUITS, VEGETABLES
AND FLOWERS.

WITHOUT OUR POLLINATORS
FLYING, BUZZING, SLITHERING
AROUND, WE'D ALL BE GOING
HUNGRY, EVEN ME!

[Whooshing, buzzing]

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.

Text reads, “Leo’s Pollinators. Explorer Club.”



Leo says, I'VE GOT AN INCREDIBLE
STORY TO SHARE WITH YOU,
POLLINHEADS. PROBABLY THE MOST
DANGEROUS POLLINATOR STORY EVER!

A plant has light purple tube-like leaves.

Leo says, SEE THIS PRETTY PLANT?
IT'S CALLED THE PURPLE PITCHER
PLANT. SEEMS INNOCENT ENOUGH,
DOESN'T IT?

BUT DON'T LET IT FOOL YOU...
IT'S A BUG EATER!

THAT'S RIGHT, IN ORDER FOR
THE PITCHER PLANT TO SURVIVE
IT NEEDS TO EAT BUGS!

NOW, I CAN UNDERSTAND
THE APPEAL OF EATING BUGS,
THEY ARE A TASTY DELIGHT,
MMM-MMM!

BUT A BUG-EATING PLANT?

SO YOU CAN SEE WHAT A
DANGEROUS MISSION THIS IS
FOR OUR WILD POLLINATOR PALS!

THERE'S WHERE THE HERO
OF THIS STORY, THE
FLETCHERMEEMEYA...
THE FLETCHER... UH,
THE FLETCHERMERMIA?
FLET- AH!

Text beside a photograph of a small, winged insect reads, “Fletchermeemeya.” Lines scribble over the word. Text reads, “Fletchermeeeh??” Lines scribble over the word. Text reads, “Fletchermermia.” Lines scribble over the word.

[Scribbling, upbeat music plays]

The narrator says, AS IT'S MOST
COMMONLY KNOWN, THE PURPLE
PITCHER PLANT FLY.

Text beneath the fly reads, “Purple Pitcher Plant Fly.” “Fletcherimyia.”

Leo says, AND THIS BRAVE
POLLINATOR PAL IS AT THE TOP
OF THE 'NATOR NAVIGATOR TODAY.

THE PITCHER PLANT FLY IS
PRETTY SPECIAL.

IT'S THE ONLY POLLINATOR
THIS BUG-EATING PLANT
DOESN'T EAT!

A pitcher plant fly crawls on a leaf.

[Whoosh]

Leo says, AND THAT'S JUST THE
START OF THIS BIZARRE STORY.

POLLINHEAD CHLOE IS HEADING OUT
WITH RESEARCHER PETER KANN,
FROM EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY,
TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS
WEIRD PLANT/POLLINATOR
RELATIONSHIP.

An orange flag shows the location of Algonquin Park on a map.

Chloe and Peter paddle a canoe. Peter wears a floppy-brimmed hat over his short black hair. He wears a yellow vest over a blue shirt. Peter carries a butterfly net.

Chloe asks, THE PITCHER PLANT
ACTUALLY LIVES HERE?

Text beneath Peter reads, “Peter Kann. East Carolina University. Researcher.”

Peter says, YES, AND THEY LOVE
THESE REALLY SWAMPY,
BOGGY HABITATS.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE SOIL
IS REALLY NUTRIENT-POOR,
AND PLANTS TYPICALLY GET
NUTRIENTS FROM THE SOIL
USING THEIR ROOTS.

BUT THESE PLANTS CAN'T DO
THAT. THEY EAT BUGS,

[Whoosh]

Peter says, BUT SOMETIMES THEY'RE
EVEN KNOWN TO EAT SALAMANDERS.

[Whoosh, birds chirp]

Chloe asks, HOW CAN A PLANT
EAT ANYTHING, LET ALONE
A SALAMANDER?

Peter replies, WELL, LET'S TAKE
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT
STRUCTURES THAT THIS PLANT HAS.

SO UP HERE, THE FIRST THING
WE SEE ARE THESE FLOWERS.

IF YOU TAKE A LOOK IN HERE,
IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE THERE'S
A LITTLE ROOM ON THE INSIDE.

THAT FORCES POLLINATORS LIKE
OUR FLY, INTO THE FLOWER,
WHERE THEY'RE SHOWERED
WITH POLLEN BEFORE THEY LEAVE,
AND HEAD INTO ANOTHER FLOWER.

Chloe asks, SO THE FLOWER DOESN'T
EAT THE POLLINATORS?

Peter says, NO. AND IN FACT,
THIS PLANT DOESN'T WANT
TO EAT ITS POLLINATORS,
SO IT KEEPS ITS FLOWERS
UP HIGH, ABOVE THE TRAP.

SO IF WE LOOK DOWN TO
THE BOTTOM, THESE LEAVES,
WHICH ARE CALLED PITCHERS,
THESE ARE THE TRAPS.

AND THESE ARE WHAT EAT
ALL OF THE BUGS, AND
SOMETIMES SALAMANDERS.

YOU CAN SEE ON THE TOP PART
OF THE PITCHER, IT'S CALLED THE
OPERCULUM, THERE'S ALL OF THESE
DOWNWARD-FACING HAIRS.

Text beneath an arrow pointing to the upper edge of the pitcher reads, “Operculum.”

[Slide whistle, insects buzz, birds chirp]

Peter says, WHEN INSECTS OR ANY
SMALL ANIMAL STANDS ON THOSE
HAIRS, THIS PLANT FORCES THEM
DOWN INTO THE TRAP.

ON THE INSIDE IT'S REALLY SLIPPERY,
SO ONCE THEY GET IN THERE,
THEY CAN'T GET BACK OUT.

BUT THE PITCHER PLANT FLY
KNOWS HOW TO WALK AROUND
THESE TRAPS WITHOUT
GETTING CAUGHT.

Chloe asks, WHY WOULD ANY
POLLINATOR EVEN GO DOWN INTO
THE PLANT?

Peter says, WELL, THAT'S AN
EXCELLENT QUESTION.

IT'S BECAUSE THESE TRAPS ARE
LINED WITH NECTAR. SO NECTAR
IS WHAT BRINGS POLLINATORS
INTO A LOT OF FLOWERS, BUT THIS
PLANT ALSO PRODUCES NECTAR IN
ITS TRAPS.

AND THAT TRICKS A LOT OF BUGS
INTO GOING DOWN INTO A PLACE
THAT THEY CAN'T COME BACK
OUT OF.

Chloe says, THAT'S AMAZING.
HEY, THERE'S A FLY RIGHT THERE!

Peter catches the fly in his net.

[Swish]

Peter says, GOOD EYE, CHLOE!
THIS IS EXACTLY THE FLY THAT
WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

Chloe says, IT JUST LOOKS LIKE
YOUR AVERAGE FLY.

Peter agrees, YEAH, IT DOES,
IT'S PRETTY DRAB.

BUT EVEN THOUGH THEY DON'T
LOOK EXCEPTIONAL, THEIR
BEHAVIOUR IS REALLY,
REALLY AMAZING.

Photographs show eight flies, each with the species Latin name beneath it. Photographs show eight types of pitcher plants, each with the proper Latin name beneath it.

[Whooshing]

Peter says, THERE ARE EIGHT SPECIES
OF PITCHER PLANT FLIES, AND THERE
ARE EIGHT SPECIES OF PITCHER PLANT.

THIS PITCHER PLANT FLY ONLY
LIVE IN THE PURPLE PITCHER PLANT.

Chloe says, AH, THEY'RE KIND OF PICKY.

Peter says, THEY ARE PICKY.
AND THEIR PICKINESS HAS EVOLVED
OVER TIME.

EACH SPECIES HAS ITS OWN
DIFFERENT HOST PREFERENCES,
AND THAT MEANS THAT WHEN
DIFFERENT FLY SPECIES LIVE IN
THE SAME PLACE, THEY'RE NOT
COMPETING WITH ONE ANOTHER
FOR A HOME.

SO YOU WANT TO HAVE A CLOSER
LOOK AT THIS FLY?

Chloe says, DEFINITELY.

Chloe and Peter bump elbows.

[Fly buzzes]

Text reads, “Did You Know?”

Housten wears a blue tee-shirt as he stands beside a chalkboard. He wears his black hair short. Text on the board reads, “Flies equals Pollination.”

Housten says, AH! MOST OF US THINK
THAT FLIES ARE JUST PESTS,

BUT DID YOU KNOW FLIES ARE
CONSIDERED THE BEST POLLINATORS
AFTER BEES?

[Buzzing]

Housten says, AND SOME SCIENTISTS
EVEN THINK THAT THEY COULD BE
BETTER THAN BEES.

BUT UNLIKE HONEY BEES, WHO HAVE
A HIVE FULL OF HUNGRY BABIES,
FLIES ARE ON THEIR OWN.

AND THAT MEANS THAT THEY CAN
ROAM FREE, AND COVER A LARGE
AREA, AND POLLINATE MORE PLANTS.

THE MOST IMPORTANT FLY OF THEM
ALL IS A TINY FLY FROM THE MIDGE FAMILY.

A photograph shows a small fly. Text beneath it reads, “Forcipomyia Squamipennis.” “Chocolate Midge.”

Housten says, AND IT'S THE ONLY
POLLINATOR OF THE CACAO TREE.

THAT'S THE TREE THAT PROVIDES
US WITH CHOCOLATE.

NO FLIES, NO CHOCOLATE.

Text on the chalkboard reads, “No Flies equals no chocolate.”

He says, AND WHO WOULD WANT
TO LIVE IN A WORLD
WITHOUT CHOCOLATE?

GO FLIES! NOW YOU KNOW.

[Whoosh]

[Birds chirp]

Peter says, SO TAKE A CLOSE LOOK
AT THIS FLY, AND YOU CAN SEE IT
ONLY HAS TWO WINGS.

AND THAT'S ACTUALLY SOMETHING
THAT'S VERY SPECIAL, ONLY FLIES
HAVE TWO WINGS. MOST OTHER
INSECTS HAVE FOUR.

The numbers one and two appear by the wings of the fly. Numbers one, two, three, and four appear by the wings of a butterfly.

[Birds chirp]

Peter continues, AND IF WE LOOK
EVEN CLOSER HERE, WE CAN SEE
THAT THIS FLY IS COVERED IN HAIRS.

THEIR HAIR IS A LOT MORE
SENSITIVE THAN OURS.

THEY CAN DETECT THE SLIGHTEST
MOVEMENTS IN THE AIR.

AND NOW THESE FLIES IN
PARTICULAR, THEY HAVE GIANT,
STICKY FOOT PADS. THOSE
PROBABLY HELP THEM AS
THEY WALK AROUND ON THE
PITCHER PLANTS, WHICH ARE
REALLY SLIPPERY.

An orange line circles a fly’s foot. Text reads, “foot pad.”

Chloe says THEIR EYES ARE REALLY
FREAKY. IT'S LIKE THEY HAVE SO MANY,
AND THEY CAN SEE THE EXACT SAME
THING IN EACH LITTLE PANEL.

Peter says, THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
THEIR EYES WRAP ALL THE WAY
AROUND THEIR HEAD, SO THEY CAN
SEE IN THREE HUNDRED AND
SIXTY DEGREES.

A screen behind Leo shows “Fly vision,” a wide view of a lake.

Leo says, WHOA!

Peter says, NOW, ONE OF THE
COOLEST THINGS ABOUT THIS
PARTICULAR FLY ISN'T SOMETHING
THAT WE CAN REALLY SEE UNDER
THE MICROSCOPE.

THESE FLIES GIVE LIVE BIRTH.
JUST LIKE A MAMMAL DOES.

Chloe repeats, LIVE BIRTH?

Peter says, YEAH.
AND THEY EVEN HAVE MILK
GLANDS LIKE MAMMALS DO.
AND THE WILD THING IS THAT
WHEN THE GIVE BIRTH, THEY
PUT THEIR LARVAE DIRECTLY
INSIDE OF THOSE CARNIVOROUS
PITCHER PLANTS.

Chloe asks, BUT WOULDN'T THE
PLANT JUST EAT THE BABIES?

Peter says, YOU WOULD THINK SO,
BUT THESE FLY LARVAE HAVE
REALLY THICK SKIN THAT
PROTECTS THEM FROM THE
ENVIRONMENT INSIDE THE
PITCHER PLANT.

[Birds chirp]

Chloe asks, SO THE FLY GROWS UP
IN THE PLANT?

Peter says, EXACTLY.
AND THE PLANT PROTECTS THE FLY,
BECAUSE PREDATORS THAT WOULD
WANT TO COME AND EAT THE LARVAE
JUST GET EATEN BY THE PLANT, BUT
THE FLY ALSO HELPS THE PLANT.

WHEN A BIG INSECT FALLS INTO THE
PLANT, THIS LARVAE CHEWS A BUNCH
OF HOLES IN IT, AND THAT RELEASES
ALL THE NUTRIENTS. AND IT'S MUCH
EASIER FOR THE PLANT TO
ABSORB THEM.

Chloe says, SO YOU'RE TELLING ME
THAT THIS PLANT EATS
POLLINATORS, IT'S A HOME FOR
POLLINATORS, AND IT'S A NURSERY
FOR POLLINATORS?

Peter says, YEP, EXACTLY RIGHT.
AND THERE'S EVEN MORE GOING
ON INSIDE OF THE TRAPS.

Peter holds a long, clear tube.

He says, SEE, LOOK AT ALL THE
STUFF THAT'S IN HERE.

Chloe says, WHOA!

Peter says, WE CAN SEE A PIECE
OF A, A DIFFERENT TYPE OF FLY,
THAT DOESN'T KNOW THESE PITCHER
PLANTS QUITE AS WELL AS OUR
POLLINATORS DO.

AND THERE'S SOME MOSQUITO
LARVAE IN HERE, ALSO, CALLED
WYEOMYIA, THAT ONLY LIVES IN
THE PURPLE PITCHER PLANT.

AND UP HERE IN THE NORTH,
IT DOESN'T BITE.

Text under a photograph of a mosquito larva reads, “Wyeomyia.”

Chloe says, OKAY, THAT MUST
BE THE BEST MOSQUITO EVER.

Peter says, IT'S DEFINITELY MY
FAVOURITE MOSQUITO.

THERE'S ALSO A MIDGE THAT ONLY
LIVES IN HERE, WHICH IS ANOTHER
SMALL TYPE OF FLY.

Chloe asks, SO ALL OF THE MIDGES
AND THE LARVAE DON'T GET EATEN?

[Birds chirp]

Peter says, NO, THEY DON'T.
THEY'RE ALSO SPECIALIZED
TO THESE PLANTS.

SO NOT ONLY IS THIS A REALLY
SPECIAL RARE PLANT THAT ONLY
LIVES IN THESE REALLY PARTICULAR
HABITATS, BUT IT'S ALSO HOME TO
ALL OF THESE AMAZING ANIMALS
THAT LIVE NOWHERE ELSE.

IT'S A WHOLE COMMUNITY THAT
LIVES IN HERE.

SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF
THE WATER THAT WE PULLED FROM
INSIDE OF A PITCHER PLANT.

AND THIS IS WHERE THE MICROSCOPE
IS REALLY GONNA COME IN HANDY.

Peter holds a handheld camera over a container of water. A cord attaches the camera to a screen on top of a red canoe.

Peter says, THIS IS THE LARVAE
OF OUR POLLINATOR, THE PITCHER
PLANT FLY.

SEE THOSE TWO DARK SPOTS?

Chloe says, YEAH.

[Bloop, birds chirp]

Peter says, KIND OF RIGHT
AT THE VERY TIP.

THOSE ARE INTERNAL JAWS,
AND THEY'RE REALLY SHARP.

THAT'S WHAT THE LARVAE USES
TO CHEW HOLES INTO THE OTHER
INSECTS THAT FALL INTO THE
PITCHER PLANT.

FOR INSECTS, THAT'S REALLY BIZARRE.

INSECTS USUALLY HAVE ALL OF
THEIR HARD PARTS ON THE OUTSIDE
OF THEIR BODY. RIGHT,?THEY HAVE
AN EXOSKELETON.

Peter says, THIS IS ONE OF THE ONLY
EXAMPLES IN ANY INSECT OF A HARD
PART INSIDE OF THEIR BODY.

Text beside a photograph of a winged insect perched on a leaf reads, “An insect’s exoskeleton is made of a substance called chitin.”

Chloe exclaims, WHOA!

Peter says, SEE THAT FLAT PART
WITH THOSE TWO HOLES?

Chloe says, UH HUH.

Two arrows point to holes in a larva. Text beneath the arrows reads, “spiracles.”

Peter says, THOSE TWO HOLES
ARE CALLED SPIRACLES, AND
THOSE ARE SPECIAL HOLES THAT
THE LARVAE BREATHES THROUGH.

INSECTS AREN'T LIKE US, THEY
DON'T BREATHE THROUGH THEIR
MOUTH. THEY HAVE TINY HOLES
ALL OVER THEIR BODY THAT THEY
BREATHE THROUGH.

Chloe says, IT'S AMAZING THAT THIS
PLANT IS A HOST TO SO MANY
DIFFERENT POLLINATORS AND BUGS.

Peter says, IT REALLY IS. THERE'S
AN ENTIRE LITTLE WORLD THAT
EXISTS IN THESE PITCHERS.

[Whooshing]

He says, AND TO US IT'S REALLY
SMALL, BUT IT'S A HUGE SPACE
TO THE THINGS THAT LIVE
IN THERE.

Chloe says, WE'RE REALLY LUCKY
TO TAKE A PEEK INTO THIS WORLD.

Peter says, YEAH, WE REALLY ARE.

[Whoosh]

Chloe and Peter paddle their red canoe.

[Splashing, upbeat music plays]

Chloe says, IT'S BEEN GREAT TO
SEE THESE BRAVE POLLINATORS
UP CLOSE.

Peter says, YEAH, IT'S REALLY
INCREDIBLE HOW NATURE
PROVIDES A HOME FOR EVERYONE.

AND BY WORKING TOGETHER AS A
COMMUNITY, THESE INSECTS CAN
EVEN LIVE SOMEWHERE AS
INHOSPITABLE AS A
CARNIVOROUS PLANT.

Chloe says, THIS CALLS FOR A
"HIGH FLY."

Chloe and Peter each put a hand down in front of them. They raise them above their heads and high five.

Chloe and Peter say, HIIIIIGH FLY!

Chloe says, WOO HOO!

[Both laugh]

Text reads, “Pollinhead Alert!”

Leo says, POLLINHEADS ALERT!

THERE ARE SO MANY AMAZING
CREATURES THAT MAKE UP OUR
WORLD THAT NEED OUR PROTECTION,
ESPECIALLY THOSE LIKE THE PITCHER
PLANT, AND ITS FAVOURITE POLLINATOR,
THE PURPLE PITCHER PLANT FLY.

YOU MAY NOT SPEND A LOT OF TIME
IN THE WETLANDS, BUT IT'S A HOME,
A NEIGHBOURHOOD TO LOTS
OF CREATURES.

ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO HELP
PROTECT THESE ECOSYSTEMS
IS TO START THINKING ABOUT
THEM AS NEIGHBOURHOODS.

HELP YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS
KNOW HOW IMPORTANT
EVERYONE WHO LIVES THERE IS,
WHETHER IT'S A PLANT OR A FLY,

OR A CATFISH.
BEING A GOOD POLLINHEAD ALSO
MEANS BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOUR.

[Upbeat music plays]

End credits roll.

“Directed by: Karen Hawes.
Written by: Karen Hawes.
Created by: Karen Hawes and Christopher Szarka.
Produced by: Christopher Szarka and Raj Panikkar.


With
Naomi Melvin as ‘LEO’.
Chloe Drayton.
Housten Daghighi.

Produced in association with TVOkids.

Fifth Ground Entertainment.
TVOkids.