.png)
Bees for Plant Pollination: What Gardeners Should Know
I’ve been working with a friend the last couple of years who now lives in a developed area in a warmer southern area (not in the woods, like me). I have been sharing information and seeds with him through these years.
He recently touched base with me and expressed concern about what appears to be a decline of pollinators in his area. He said hedges and flowers that are usually covered with honeybees are empty this year. He has seen less than 10 bees so far. The same with bumblebees…. he feels they are just missing. He had also heard lightning bugs are going extinct.
He asked if I had seen or heard anything about this? It got me thinking about how important bees for plant pollination are to our gardens and natural areas, and my fellow gardeners might be having the same question as my friend. So, this blogpost is the answer to that question and more.
Pollinators Observed in Different Areas
When he asked me the question, I had to think about it. In a warm southern area, I had caterpillars this spring, which means butterflies. I had pollinator bees on my blueberries (here is the post showing this!). I also noticed small pollinators on my blooming herbs. I did not notice that there might have been less than years before.
Now that I’m in a hilly area, I’ve noticed that the very cold and very dry weather this past winter appears to have possibly reduced the amount of flowers this spring, such as the Ox-eyed daisies. If there are less flowers, it may mean less pollinators.
The other day during my morning walk, I heard buzzing. I always stop and look around for the source of the sound. I realized the sound was coming from overhead in the tree I was under. It was full of various pollinators.
Sooo... I’m not really noticing a reduction in the areas I’m in, but now that he mentioned it, I’m going to try to be more aware.
As summer approaches I will be watching the Partridge Pea, Goldenrod and Meadow sweet, to name a few. They were full of pollinators last year. I can tell you that the crape myrtles are full of pollinators right now.
Watching for Fireflies and Pollinators
A couple of days ago during a chat with my neighbor here in a hilly area, she asked if I was noticing lightning bugs. I told her, when we could stay awake long enough for it to be dark outside, we did see them. She said she was seeing Them too, but she noticed that the population has been so much less than years past.
First of all, it is hard for me to decide what is truly happening everywhere based on what is happening in my two places. The temperatures and humidity are different between the two, but they are similar in that both places are surrounded by trees and growth.
How Development Can Affect Bees for Plant Pollination
Over the years I’ve noticed when new homes and buildings go up, it seems that one of the first things they do is to remove plants and trees, making it easier for the contractors. They figure they can replant, usually using landscaping that, most of the time, leans toward looking like a manicured landscape, not necessarily native plants.
Stripping areas for development is one of the culprits of pollinator loss. My friend lives in one of these developed areas. This may be the problem.
In the last decade, more or less, I’ve noticed many places and towns are leaning towards leaving in old native trees and scrubs and replacing what is taken out with natives. This is a good thing in many ways. One being less care is needed for growing native plants. Another is that the wildlife, including insects, are drawn to what they remember as being in an area to feed them and protect them.
Our beneficials and pollinators will not stay around if there is not enough of what they need to reproduce. Tilling or stripping land removes the needs of some of the pollinators.
Ground-Dwelling Pollinators Matter
While conducting research on this subject, I found that 70% of the native pollinators in the state are ground dwellers. That’s right, 70%!!
Solitary bees, making up 90% of the native bee populations in North America, live in underground tunnels and are important pollinators.
When the ground is disrupted, you are taking out the underground tunnels where the solitary bees (and solitary wasps - important beneficials) lay eggs. Some solitary bees use holes in dying trees, sometimes using old tunneling made by beetles.
So, honeybees are not your only pollinator option, there are many others, so consider how to help the habitat to support the 70%.
More to Come About Pollinators
Next, I will talk about setting up your own bee habitat (not for honeybees, but for pollinators), tips to help your pollinators, fireflies and more!
So, make sure to read Bee Habitat Guide: Help Pollinators Thrive in Your Yard as well.
Comments