How Do Flies Help Make Chocolate?
WouterThe tiny midge fly is responsible for pollinating cacao trees. It is a member of the Ceratopogonidae family and is native to regions where cacao is cultivated. These tiny insects help make chocolate a reality and are worth an estimated $98 billion per year! However, the fly’s role isn’t completely clear. Some researchers believe that midges have a much smaller role in the production of chocolate than previously thought.
Cocoa beans are derived from the seeds of the cacao tree. Midges are responsible for pollination and are crucial to the cacao tree’s success. Without their pollination services, cacao trees would not be able to produce fruit. The midges pollinate the cacao trees, helping them to produce fruit only 30% of the time.
Besides pollinating cacao plants, flies are also responsible for pollinating many other kinds of plants. Some of the fruits and vegetables that flies pollinate include mangoes, chile peppers, onions, fennel, and fennel. Interestingly, these insects don’t like rain and are highly adapted to live in cold environments.
Although chocolate production is a key component of the Colombian chocolate industry, cacao trees are planted in unnatural environments, creating irregular flowering patterns and a low production rate. Some farmers, however, are working to reverse this trend by planting cacao trees in small areas within the rain forest ecosystem. This will provide cacao trees with a more natural environment and allow for more fruit to be produced. Some farmers supplement the pollination process by hand.
