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Native Pollinators Wildlife Habitat Management Institute Native Pollinators May 2005 Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet Number 34 Introduction the rest are invertebrates, including flies, beetles, but- terflies, moths, and bees. Pollination is an ecosystem process that has evolved over millions of years to benefit both flowering plants This leaflet is designed to bring much needed atten- and pollinators. Pollinators visit flowers for many tion to native pollinators. Native pollinators are adapt- reasons, including feeding, pollen collection, and ed to local climate conditions, soils, and plant life and, warmth. When pollinators visit flowers, pollen rubs or thus, require limited management or maintenance. By drops onto their bodies. The pollen is then transferred reading this leaflet, landowners should gain a better to another flower or a different part of the same flow- understanding of the great value of native pollinators er as the pollinator moves from one location to the and that many species face a serious risk of decline. next. This process is a vital stage in the life cycle of The leaflet presents the habitat requirements of a vari- all flowering plants and is necessary to start seed and ety of native pollinators and offers practical ideas for fruit production in flowers. Not only do pollinators their conservation and management. provide essential services in nature, they are also nec- essary for healthy, productive agricultural ecosystems as they ensure the production of full-bodied fruit and Value of pollinators fertile seed sets in many crops. Animals pollinate approximately 75 percent of the Although some plant species rely on wind or water to crop plants grown worldwide for food, fiber, beverag- transfer pollen from one flower to the next, the vast es, condiments, spices, and medicines. It has been cal- majority (almost 90%) of all plant species need the culated that one out of every three to four mouthfuls help of animals for this task. There are approximately of food we eat and beverages we drink is delivered to 200,000 different species of animals around the world us by pollinators. As such, agricultural products that that act as pollinators. Of these, about 1,000 are ver- are produced with the help of pollinators make a sig- tebrates, such as birds, bats, and small mammals, and nificant contribution to the economy. For example, it has been estimated that insect-pollinated crops direct- ly contributed $20 billion to the United States econ- omy in the year 2000. If this calculation were to in- clude indirect products, such as milk and beef from cattle fed on alfalfa, the value of pollinators to agricul- tural production would be raised to $40 billion in the United States alone. Table 1 shows some of the com- mon agricultural crops that are dependent upon or benefited by insect pollination. Not only do native pollinators provide us with a signif- icant amount of the food we eat and contribute to the economy, they also perform key roles in natural eco- system. By helping to keep plant communities healthy and able to reproduce naturally, native pollinators as- sist plants in providing food and cover for wildlife, preventing erosion, and keeping waterways clean. Pollinated plants produce fruit and seeds which are a major part of the diet of approximately 25 percent NRCS of bird species, as well as many mammals. Flowering Painted lady butterfly 1 Native Pollinators es and sites for mating, nesting, roosting, and migra- tion. Excessive use and improper application of many pesticides impact pollinators and their habitats. Some insecticides directly kill pollinators, particularly pol- linating insects, and herbicides reduce forage plant di- versity by killing wildflowers. Non-native pollinators, such as honeybees, can out-compete native pollina- tors for local nectar resources, placing them at great- er risk of decline. The destruction and fragmentation of pollinator habitats have led to significant declines in many populations. At least 185 species of polli- nators are considered threatened or extinct by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), and at least 2 bat and 13 bird species listed as endangered in the United NRCS States are pollinators. The apple industry relies on insect pollinators. plants also provide egg laying and nesting sites for Native pollinator habitat requirements many insects, including butterflies. Pollinators sup- port biodiversity, and there is a positive correlation Bees between plant diversity and pollinator diversity. Bees provide an important pollination service for most terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. In the United States, honeybees and thousands of species of native Decline of native pollinators bees are responsible for pollinating crops, as well as garden, meadow, and forest plants. There are about Human activities have destroyed and fragmented 4,000 species of bees native to the United States, the many native pollinator habitats. Many remaining habi- great majority of which are solitary nesting bees. tat areas are isolated and degraded by invasive plant Bumblebees are the exception, as they live in social species, making them less suitable for native pollina- colonies. Most bees visit flowers to get pollen and/or tors and other wildlife. These changes in habitat can nectar, which they use to feed themselves and their lead to a reduction of native pollinator food sourc- offspring. Table 1 Crops dependent upon or benefited by insect pollination Legumes and Beans, Cowpea, Lima Beans, Lupines, Mung Bean/Green or Golden Gram, Soybean relatives Vegetables Artichoke, Asparagus, Beet, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cantaloupes, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Cucumber, Eggplant, Endive, Green Pepper, Leek, Lettuce, Okra, Onion, Parsnip, Pumpkin, Radish, Rutabaga, Squash, Tomato, Turnip, White Gourd Fruits, berries Almonds, Apple, Apricot, Avocado, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cacao, Cashew, Cherry, Chestnut, and nuts Citrus, Coffee, Coconut, Crabapple, Cranberry, Currant, Date, Fig, Gooseberry, Grapes, Guava, Huckleberry, Kiwi, Kolanut, Litchi, Macadamia, Mango, Olive, Papaw, Papaya, Passionfruit, Peach, Pear, Persimmon, Plum, Pomegranate, Raspberry, Strawberry, Tung, Vanilla, Watermelon Herbs and Allpsice, Anise, Black Pepper, Caraway, Cardamom, Chive, Clove, Coriander, Dill, Fennel, spices Lavender, Mustard, Nutmeg, Parsley, Pimento, Tea, White Pepper Oils, seeds and Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Canola, Flax, Oil Palm, Safflower, Sesame, Sunflower grains Clover and rel- Alsike Clover, Arrowleaf Clover, Ball Clover, Berseem Clover, Black Medic/Yellow Trefoil, atives Cider Milkvetch, Crimson Clover, Lespedeza, Peanut, Persian Clover, Red Clover, Rose Clover, Strawberry Clover, Subterranean Clover, Sweet Clover, Trefoil, Vetch, White Clover Other Cotton, Kenaf 2 Native Pollinators nest. Sometimes this cavity is above ground, such as in hollow trees or walls, or under a clump of grass, but more often bumblebees nest underground, some- times in abandoned rodent holes. Bumblebees are generalist feeders and forage on a wide range of plants. Butterflies More than 700 species of native butterflies exist in North America. Butterflies, like all pollinators, are closely linked to their environments, such that dras- tic changes in the ecosystem can be devastating to lo- calized populations or species. A butterfly’s life has four stages: egg, caterpillar, pupa, and adult. The habi- NRCS tat needs of the butterfly vary from stage to stage, and A bumblebee visits a purple coneflower. each has needs that must be considered to provide suitable habitat. Honeybees are relied upon heavily for crop pollina- tion and honey production. However, honeybees are Leaves and branches of trees and shrubs, wildflowers, not native to North America. Many species of native grasses, and soil serve as substrates for butterfly eggs. bees do exist in North America, and horticulturists, However, most butterfly species are limited to one or conservationists, ecologists, and home gardeners are a few closely related plant species that can success- becoming more aware that they are important for pol- fully serve as host plants for the caterpillars, and fe- lination. Not only do native bees pollinate agricultural males must lay their eggs on or near the host plant in crops, they also play an integral role in the function- order for the caterpillar to survive. For example, mon- ing of natural ecosystems. arch butterfly caterpillars eat only milkweed, and fe- male monarchs will only lay eggs on or near milkweed Among the most common native pollinators are soli- plants. Caterpillars feed on the leaves, stems, flowers, tary bees, aptly named because most do not assemble or fruits of their host plants, which also serve to cover in hives or colonies, and those that do aggregate live them from potential predators. solitary lives among the others. Solitary bees pollinate valuable commercial crops such as apples, alfalfa, wa- After several weeks of eating and growing, caterpil- termelon, sunflowers, strawberries, and blueberries. lars begin to transform into their adult forms. This Solitary bees nest in a variety of interesting places in- transformation is called the pupa stage, and it is the cluding sticks, dirt mounds, and termite holes. A few non-feeding, stationary stage of a butterfly’s life. species construct domed nests out of mud, plant res- Though they do not require food, pupae do need a ins, saps, or gums on the surface of rocks or trees. protected site, such as a bush, tall grass, or a pile Many bees use abandoned beetle burrows or oth- of leaves or sticks, on which to transform into their
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