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 Pollinators and
Gardening
Compiled by Ruth Kear Why Attract Pollinators to Your Garden? Pollinators are nearly as important as sunlight, soil and water to the reproductive success of nearly 80% of the world’s flowering plants. More than one of every three bites of food we eat or beverages we drink are directly due to pollinators. It is estimated that more than 1,300 types of plants are grown around the world for food, beverages, medicines, condiments, spices and even fabric. While, over half the diet of fats and oils comes from crops pollinated by animals. Pollinators are also vital to creating and maintaining the habitats and ecosystems that many animals rely on for food and shelter. They are also some of the most intriguing species to watch and enjoy, as their special role in the environment has caused them to evolve over time into not only beautiful, but truly wondrous creatures. In recent decades there has been an alarming worldwide decline in pollinator populations. Excessive use of pesticides and an ever-­‐expanding conversion of landscapes to human use are thought to be the biggest culprits. Climate change is posing increasing threats as well. The actions you take in and around your garden can help promote the population of pollinators. By attracting pollinators to your garden, you can help protect these species, and reap the rewards of enjoying delicious vegetables, fruits and herbs and surrounding yourself with beautiful plants and flowers. How Does Pollination Occur? Pollination occurs when birds, bees, bats, butterflies, moths, beetles, other animals, water, or the wind carries pollen from flower to flower or it is moved within flowers. The successful transfer of pollen in and between flowers of the same plant species leads to fertilization, successful seed development, and fruit production. Biotic pollination is the term used when pollination is aided by a pollinator. When this is carried out by birds, the term used is Ornithophily. Approximately 80 percent of all pollination relies upon pollinators. Who Are Our Pollinators? Bees There are thousands of species of bees including the honey bee, bumblebee, cutter bee and the green sweat bees, which are small, brilliantly colored, metallic green bees are hard to miss in a garden. Female leaf cutter bees that cut out the circular holes in the leaves of plants are also important pollinators. All bees that carry pollen on their hind legs and bellies are female. Bees prefer blue, purple, and yellow flowers, and sweet fragrances. They see ultraviolet colors – found on the flowers such as buttercups and black-­‐eyed Susans. Open face flowers like sunflowers, gaillardia, cosmos and asters are easily accessible to a wide range of bees with short tongues or small size, as well as flies and beetles. Birds There are 2,000 bird species globally that feed on nectar or the insects, and spiders associated with nectar bearing flowers. Hummingbirds, spider hunters, sunbirds, honeycreepers and honeyeaters are the most common pollinator bird species. Plants that make use of pollination by birds commonly have bright red, orange or yellow flowers and very little scent. This is because birds have a keen sense of sight for color, but generally little or no sense of smell. Bird pollinated flowers produce copious amounts of nectar to attract and feed the birds that are performing the pollination, as well as having pollen that is usually large and sticky to cling to the feathers of the bird. Hummingbirds To attract hummingbirds to your garden, provide them with nectar starting in early spring. It’s thought that hummingbirds prefer red-­‐colored flowers; however, they will feed on any flower that produces abundant nectar. They thrust their long slender bills and tongues deep into the flowers for nectar, withdrawing faces dusted in pollen. Hummingbirds sip nectar from long, tubular flowers like honeysuckle, lantana and many varieties of trumpet vine found in Mexico. They also pollinate agave, pipe organ cactus and century plants. The flowers that are visited by birds and hummingbirds are typically: •
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Funnels or Tubular shape with petals that are curved to be out of the way Strong supports for perching Brightly colored: red, yellow, or orange Odorless (birds have a poor sense of smell) Open during the day Prolific nectar producers with nectar deeply hidden Modest pollen producers that are designed to dust the bird’s head/back with pollen as the bird forages for nectar Moths Symbol of knowledge, guardians of gold dust of eternity -­‐ Yaqui (Mexico) Sphinx moths, also called “Hummingbird” moths, prefer pale or white flowers that open in the evening and that have a strong, sweet smell. They are one of the few moths active during the day. The caterpillars, called tobacco and tomato hornworms, are well known to gardeners. What’s the difference between moths and butterflies? Generally, moths fly at night and have antennae with all kinds of shapes whereas butterflies fly during the day and have knobs on the ends of their wiry antennae. Beetles, Flies and Wasps Beetles represent the greatest diversity of insects and pollinators. They feed on pollen and chew on flowers, but in the process they pick up pollen and carry it to other flowers. Because they’re so abundant, flies are important pollinators even though they transport less pollen than bees. Beetles enjoy flowers that are white or green and have a wide opening. There are currently no published studies on population trends of pollinating beetles, however, we do know that beetles play a vital role in pollinating many of the most primitive flowering plants – beetles are the oldest pollinators on earth. Butterflies Sacred to (Olmecs, Toltecs, Aztecs) Teotihuacan (the Palace of the Butterfly) -­‐ Butterflies favor platform-­‐
shaped sunflowers and asters, but will feed on a diversity of nectar-­‐rich flowers from violets to salvia shrubs. They prefer red, purple, orange or yellow flowers. Did you know that butterflies taste with their feet? Butterflies love warm, sunny, and windless weather. Bats As the Mexican long-­‐nosed bats move along their migratory path, they are attracted to large quantities of nectar that are present in century plants, some species of agave, and organ pipe cacti. According to researchers, the interdependence between bats and agaves is so strong that one might not be able to survive without the other. In flight, the bats hover over the plants, while using their long tongues to drink the nectar. Their tongues become coated with pollen grains, that stick to their fur; thus transferring the pollen as they move from one plant to another to feed. An Interesting Fact about Cactus The saguaro cactus and its cousins the cardon (also called cholla), organ pipe, and senita are types of cactus were once only pollinated by bats. In order to expand their geographic range into areas where the bats were less abundant, these plants have developed unusual—some might even say bizarre—new mechanisms for attracting pollinators and for reproducing. One species of cactus, for example, is capable of producing four different sexes. Tips for Protecting and Attracting Pollinators to your Garden 1. Don’t use pesticides. Most pesticides are not selective. You are killing off the beneficial bugs along with the pests. If you must use a pesticide, start with the least toxic one and follow the label instructions to the letter. 2. Use local native plants. Research suggests native plants are four times more attractive to native bees than exotic flowers. They are also usually well adapted to your growing conditions and can thrive with minimum attention. In gardens, heirloom varieties of herbs and perennials can also provide good foraging. 3. Choose several colors of flowers. Bees have good color vision to help them find flowers and the nectar and pollen they offer. Flower colors that particularly attract bees are blue, purple, violet, white, and yellow. 4. Plant flowers in clumps. Flowers clustered into clumps of one species will attract more pollinators than individual plants scattered through the habitat patch. Where space allows, make the clumps four feet or more in diameter. 5. Include flowers of different shapes. There are four thousand different species of bees in North America, and they are all different sizes, have different tongue lengths, and will feed on different shaped flowers. Consequently, providing a range of flower shapes means more bees can benefit. 6. Have a diversity of plants flowering all season. Most bee species are generalists, feeding on a range of plants through their life cycle. By having several plant species flowering at once, and a sequence of plants flowering through spring, summer, and fall, you can support a range of bee species that fly at different times of the season. 7. Plant where pollinators will visit. Pollinators favor sunny spots over shade and need some shelter from strong winds. 8. Provide fresh water. Bees and other beneficial insects — ladybugs, butterflies, and predatory wasps — all need fresh water to drink but most can't land in a conventional bird bath without crashing 1. Line a shallow bowl or plate with rocks. 2. Add water, but leave the rocks as dry islands to serve as landing pads. 3. Place the bath at the ground level in your garden. (Put it near "problem plants" — those that get aphids, for example — and the beneficial insects that come to drink will look after them.) 4. Refresh the water daily, adding just enough to evaporate by day's end.