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Photo by Travis Pratt
A bumble bee pollinates milkweed in Jim Gallion's front yard. |
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Without pollinators, there would be no blueberries, peaches, apples, strawberries, almonds, cherries, alfalfa or clover and a lot fewer flowers. The Earth & Life Studies at the National Academies says that about one-third of human food crops and about three-quarters of the world's flowering plants need pollinators.Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, bats, moths, flies, wasps, beetles, insects and small mammals such as mice are responsible for the act of pollination — necessary for many plants to produce fruits and seeds. However, in recent years, a decline in some pollinator populations have been documented, most notably the honeybee. These busy bees not only produce honey and wax, but contribute to the production of billions of dollars worth of crops in America every year, says the National Academies. Researchers are exploring the problem. The EPA recently launched a pollinator protection team to inquire into the possible causes of declines in pollinators, especially colony collapse disorder and honey bee populations in the U.S. Possible causes include pesticides, invasive plants and animals, diseases, parasites and loss of habitat. A grassroots effort Help for pollinators can begin at the grassroots level, too -- right in your backyard. "The neat thing about pollinator conservation is that anyone can do it -- from the golf courses to the apartment dweller with a window box," said Jim Gallion, of Wildlife Gardening Adventures in Walkersville . Gallion and his wife, Teresa, are both National Wildlife Federation habitat stewards and he's on the board of the Maryland Native Plant Society. He does site evaluations for customers and shows them how to improve their habitat to attract wildlife. Gallion says you want to create a sustainable ecosystem and using native plants is one of the most important elements. "They are the best sources of food," he said. "A lot of ornamentals are bred to produce little (nectar and pollen). They have no benefit to wildlife." Plant diversity is also important. Choose native plants that will produce nectar and pollen from spring through fall, and native plants of various heights because "pollinators fly at different levels, especially butterflies. "You might want to consider night-blooming plants for (pollinating) bats and nocturnal moths," Gallion said. "And also be a little on the messy side with patches of unmulched soil and brush piles." Dead snags can be nesting sites for bees. Dead plants and leaf litter provide shelter. Uncovered soil provides easy access to tunnels for ground-nesting insects. Bees and butterflies will make use of ground water sources. Pesticide use has been tagged as a possible cause for the decline in pollinators. Gallion encourages people to limit their use. An added benefit of native plants, he said, is that they are more resistant to pests than ornamentals, thus reducing a need for pesticide use. Pollinators need plants for more than a food source. Butterflies, for example, also need a place to lay eggs, food plants for the larva or caterpillar and a place to form a chrysalis. Milkweed is the host plant for the larval form of the monarch butterfly, which feeds on the plant. No milkweed, no monarchs. "Most host plants are also good nectar and pollinator plants," Gallion said. He recommends two species of milkweed: butterfly weed (asclepias tuberosa), "not to be confused with the butterfly bush which is becoming an invasive species and we recommend people not plant it." The other recommendation is swamp milkweed (asclepias incarnata). And when the growing season ends, Gallion suggests leaving seedheads and withering plants in place over winter. "If you clean your garden completely, you're throwing away all those pollinator nests and larvae because that's where they live." Seeds provide food for birds, who will also "pick at the pithy stalks looking for larvae. I call it the web of life." Using plant traitsto attract pollinators Jim Gallion, of Wildlife Gardening Adventures, said he includes a variety of plants to attract all kinds of pollinators to his yard. But if you want to know what some pollinator favorite colors are, here's a list: Bees: Bright white, yellow or blue Butterflies: Bright colors, including red and purple Birds: Scarlet, orange, red or white Moths: Pale and dull red, purple, pink or white Bats: Dull white, green or purple Beetles: Dull white or green Flies: Pale and dull to dark brown or purple Source: "Selecting Plants for Pollinators," by the Pollinator Partnership Did you know? Some fun facts about pollinators: There are more than 4,000 native bee species in the U.S. Butterflies rely more on vision and less on scent to find nectar. Like most birds, hummingbirds do not have a highly developed sense of smell, so flower scent doesn't matter. Bats like flowers that are large and white or pale in color. Some bat-pollinated flowers open only at night. Moths are attracted to sweet-scented flowers that are typically large and white or pale in color.Source: Earth & Life Studies at the National Academies Tips for creating a habitat for pollinators Other wildlife will benefit, too. Use native plants and arrange them in clumps rather than single plants. A diversity of plants, with overlapping bloom times, will attract a variety of pollinators. Purchase a man-made nesting block for bees. You can make your own, too. Learn how at the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign website, www.nappc.org. Most bees don't sting, so don't be afraid to attract them to your yard. Give butterflies a place for "puddling," drinking water and extracting minerals from damp puddles. Place flat stones in the garden for butterflies to sun and rest on. Leave areas of dead wood and leaf litter for other insects. Less grass is better for wildlife. Years ago, grass seed used to include clover seed because it fixes nitrogen, which is beneficial to grass, said Gallion. Bees like clover, too. Gallion also suggests observing pollinator activity in your yard or garden and keep a journal. A field guide can help you identify visitors, but a general description will suffice. Note what plants you have and which native plants will make your habitat more wildlife friendly.
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