A Gallery of Important Insect Pollinators Bees Beetles Flies Wasps Butterflies Moths
Who Are the Pollinators and What Do They Need to be Effective? Bees Attracted to bright white, yellow, orange, blue or violet flowers which reflect UV light Flower shape often tubular nectar is found at base of tube Some bees are shorttongued and prefer clusters of tiny flowers such as marigold, daisy, various herbs and butterfly weed Not all pollinating bees are honey bees - some are iridescent green and yellow and are beautiful in direct sunlight Honey Bee
Beetles Flowers usually large, flat or bowl-like, with ample, easily accessible pollen Flowers may be solitary or in clusters of smaller flowers Flower odor often unpleasant to humans, at times strongly fruity or fetid Click Beetles Examples: rose, spirea, aster, sunflower, clethra, goldenrod, pawpaw, winged sumac, pond lilies and buttonbush Dogbane Leaf Beetle
Butterflies Like bright red, orange, yellow, pink, blue or purple flowers that are often large and showy with faint, fresh fragrance Flowers often have a funnel shape or narrow tube with nectar at base as well as a landing platform Examples: zinnia, goldenrod, aster, yarrow, spirea, liatris, honeysuckle, milkweed, butterflyweed & coneflower Need plants on which to lay eggs and provide food for larvae examples: milkweed, aster, lupine, thistle, fennel, violet, willow and oak Milbert s Tortoiseshell on Liatris
Flies Like dull, pale green, white, dark brown or cream flowers Preferred flower shapes include funnel, bowl or complex Fly pollinated flowers may have a noticeable odor thought to smell unpleasant to some Species include bee flies, syrphid flies, tachinid flies, horse flies and deer flies Bee Fly
Moths Nocturnal species visit pale or dull colored flowers that open in late afternoon or night, and emit a strong, sweet odor Day-flying species primarily visit brighter colored flowers yellows and bright whites Flowers, often large & showy, are tubular with deeply hidden, abundant nectar & limited pollen Ailanthus Webworm Moth on Goldenrod Flowers may form clusters that provide a landing platform Examples: phlox, goldenrod, evening primrose, monarda, penstemon & buttonbush Honey Bee & Forester Moth on Buttonbush
Wasps Mostly visit flowers for nectar Preferred flower shapes include those with a broad platform for landing and walking upon to sample nectar Flower species include Queen Anne s lace, mountain mint, dotted horsemint, black cherry, buttonbush, milkweeds & goldenrod Ichneumon Species on Queen Anne s Lace Species include ichneumon, paper, yellow jackets, baldfaced hornets and more Polistes Species on Common Milkweed
Planning Pollinator-Friendly Gardens Use plant species which attract desired pollinators think shrubs, trees & annuals too Use native species when possible better adapted to area climate, insects & disease immunity Choose true/classic varieties over cultivars - cosmetic breeding can lessen fragrance which attracts pollinators Include plants whose blooms will peak at different times of the growing season accommodates nectaring needs of pollinators Include plants that will be useful both as adult nectar sources & larval food sources Monarda, Crocosmia, Purple Coneflower Black Swallowtail Larvae with Shed Skin
Avoid excessive mowing important for ground nesting insects Aim for diversity-additional benefits from interacting species-the more, the better Create areas of bare ground, sand, logs & rock piles with crevices for soil & cavity nesters such as native bees and wasps Provide shallow water sources - allow edges to become saturated, creating mud for puddling butterflies and beneficial bees, wasps & birds Ant Gathering Honeydew From Azure Caterpillar Sulphur Species Puddling
Threats to Pollinator Species 2 Pesticide/Herbicide Poisoning Kill more than targeted species - Bees, in particular honeybees, are especially sensitive because their larger surface area relative to body volume causes chemicals to be far more deadly Alternatives to Pesticides 1. Choose healthy NATIVE plants to cut down on disease & chemical use 2. Encourage naturally occurring biological controls against pest species 3. Avoid non-native biological controls (i.e. Asian ladybugs, Chinese mantid) to minimize competition & potential decline of native species 4. Hand pick and crush pest insects or use soapy water solutions for aphid removal Chinese Mantid (Praying Mantis) Asian Lady Beetle