00:00Did you know that this fruit isn't pollinated by bees?
00:03It's pollinated by beetles.
00:06That's right, beetles!
00:07Most fruits rely on bees or butterflies,
00:10but custard apples?
00:11They've got a much different story.
00:14Custard apples belong to the adenaceae family,
00:17and these trees rely on beetles to transfer pollen from flower to flower.
00:21They're actually related to soursop and cherimoya,
00:24all members of this fascinating tropical family.
00:27Each scaly segment of the fruit contains one shiny black seed.
00:31But here's the warning, those seeds are toxic and should never be eaten.
00:36And the skin? Also not edible.
00:38Custard apple has a few surprises hiding beneath its green exterior.
00:42But get this, the creamy white flesh inside is packed with vitamin C,
00:46more than you'll find in an apple or banana.
00:49People have been enjoying this fruit for over 500 years,
00:52ever since indigenous civilizations in Central America first discovered it.
00:56So the next time you open a custard apple, remember,
00:59without beetles, this sweet tree wouldn't exist.
01:02Thank a beetle!
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