National Pollinator Week

National Pollinator Week is taking place this year from June 21st through June 27th, 2021. Across the globe, more than 1,000 different species of plants have to be pollinated by animals and insects to produce food, as well as beverages, fibers, spices, and even medicines. If we want to talk dollars and cents, pollinators add 217 billion dollars to the global economy, and honey bees alone are responsible for between 1.2 and 5.4 billion dollars in agricultural productivity in the United States. Solitary bees, bumble bees, butterflies, moths, wasps, flies, beetles, birds, and bats are all considered pollinators. Many pollinators are disappearing due to loss of habitat, chemical misuse, invasive plants, diseases, and parasites. Anyone who loves apples, chocolate, coffee, or tequila should be concerned about the pollinator crisis.

Bees are one of the great insect pollinators, moving pollen from flower to flower due to their hairy bodies and desire for pollen and nectar. That vital interaction allows the transfer of genetic material, which is critical to the reproductive system of most flowering plants. Pollen is the bee’s source of protein, minerals, and lipids. Nectar is their carbohydrate source. In the case of honey bees, pollen is converted into royal jelly and food for developing bees, and nectar is processed into honey, which is stored in wax honeycomb cells until needed. The honeycomb wax is produced by bees after consuming large amounts of sugars. You can see why flowering plants are crucial for their survival.

Providing food and habitat is a simple way to help our pollinators. If you are interested in providing for butterflies, plant host plants for the larvae to feed on (Asclepias for monarchs) as well as nectar-producing plants for the adults to feed on. In general, a mix of annuals and perennials that bloom and provide nectar and pollen from the spring through the end of fall is desirable. Different species of plants provide different amino acids in their pollen so some diversity in your plantings is good for the pollinators that eat the pollen. Some common plants that pop up in seed blends are: Coreopsis, Gaillardia, Asclepias, Rudbeckia, Echinacea and Helianthus. For wild and managed bees, native legumes, the Asteraceae family, (especially Silphium, Solidago, Symphyotrichum) and the Lamiaceae family (especially Agastache, Monarda, Pycnanthemum) are important sources of pollen and nectar. Asters and goldenrods are very important sources for honey bees since they will bloom in the fall when the bees are storing up for the winter and there are not many other plants flowering. Flowering trees are also helpful for pollinators. Consider maples and tulip poplars for your yard.

Pollinator habitat can provide benefits in more ways than just food resources for pollinators. In addition to enhancing aesthetics, pollinator habitat can protect soil and water quality by mitigating runoff and protecting against soil erosion. These improved landscapes also assist in conservation and biodiversity by aiding in the control and reduced expansion of insect pests and weeds, and can even attract beneficial insects, all of which reduce the need for pesticides.

Most beneficial of all, be aware and learn more to fully appreciate the function and role of these animals in the ecosystem.

Source: Clemson University Cooperative Extension