by Wizzie Brown
There are numerous animal pollinators with the majority of those being insects. When most people think of pollinators, they think of bees and more specifically, honey bees. While honey bees are pollinators, they are only a small portion of the bee population around the world. The majority of bees are solitary and nest in the ground. Solitary bees are not aggressive, so people should not be afraid of them, especially since many of them are also sting-less.
Butterflies and moths are also important pollinators. Unfortunately, due to habitat destruction and other factors, their populations are on the decline. If you want to provide habitat for butterflies and moths, you need to ensure to fulfill the requirements of all life stages. Host plants are needed for eggs and caterpillars; nectar plants are needed for adults; and overwintering sites are needed for various stages.
Flies are an often overlooked pollinator. With their poor reputation for carrying diseases, many people think of flies as pests. Flies can be beneficial by fitting into food webs, breaking down waste material, and pollinating plants (including some food crops such as apples and peppers).
Ideas to conserve pollinators:
Plant native plants that provide nectar blooms spring, summer, and fall
Provide a variety of colors
Provide a variety of flower/ bloom shapes
Provide multiple levels
Reduce turf and replace with flowering plants
Plant native bunch grasses which can provide food and shelter for insects
Allow fallen leaves to remain on property to provide shelter
Create areas of bare soil for ground nesting bees (choose sunny areas that will provide dry soil)
Use IPM (integrated pest management) to reduce pesticide use
Provide water in a SAFE manner for insects
Use shallow dishes with rocks or stones
For more information or help with identification, contact Wizzie Brown, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Program Specialist at 512.854.9600. Check out my blog at www.urban-ipm.blogspot.com
This work is supported by Crops Protection and Pest Management Competitive Grants Program [grant no. 2017-70006-27188 /project accession no. 1013905] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.