Extension Bulletin E-2973 • Revised • January 2008 Attracting Beneficial Insects POLLINATORS with Native Flowering

ollinating insects play a J. Tuell J. Tuell Colletidae (cellophane , not Anna Fiedler, Julianna Tuell, Rufus Isaacs, and Doug Landis critical role in maintaining shown). Some of the more com- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University P productive natural mon species in these groups are communities, and they also polli- pictured here. nate most crop plants grown for Most species are solitary their fruits, vegetables, nuts, (each female produces offspring in seeds, and fiber. Bees are excel- Honey bee Bumble bee her own nest), with only one gen- lent pollinators because they J. Tuell J. Tuell eration of bees per year. However, spend most of their adult lives col- some of the most abundant lecting pollen to feed to their species, such as honey bees and developing offspring. The plumed bumble bees, are social, working hairs on their bodies attract pollen together to provision a single nest grains, and “brushes” on their legs in which a queen presides and pro- enable them to collect pollen and duces multiple generations per carry it back to the nest. Carpenter bee Andrenid bee year. Bees with multiple genera- provide energy in the form of nec- J. Tuell J. Tuell tions per year need food resources tar, and many bees have long (pollen and nectar) across most of tongues that allow them to reach the growing season to build their into deep flowers that other colonies. Providing plants with insects cannot use. overlapping bloom periods in a Five major bee families are found landscape will help these bees in the Midwest: Apidae (honey Sweat bee, brown Sweat bee, green survive and prosper. The table in bees, bumble bees, carpenter bees, S. Bambara, N. Carolina State Univ. J. Tuell this bulletin can be used to select and a diverse group of solitary plants that will provide flowers soil-nesting bees), Andrenidae through the growing season. (andrenid bees), For more information on (sweat bees), Megachilidae pollinators, please see the (leafcutter and mason bees), and Other Resources section below.

Mason bee Leafcutter bee Other Resources

Enhancing Beneficial Insects with Native Plants Web site: Gardiner, M., C. DiFonzo, M. Brewer and T. Noma. 2006. www.nativeplants.msu.edu Identifying Natural Enemies in Crops and Landscapes. Extension Flint, M.L., and S.H. Dreistadt. 1998. Natural Enemies bulletin E-2949. East Lansing, Mich.: Michigan State Handbook: the Illustrated Guide to Biological Pest Control. University. Publication 3386. Berkely, CA: University of California Press, Shepherd, M., S.L. Buchmann, M. Vaughan and S.H. Black. Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. 2003. Pollinator Conservation Handbook. Portland, Ore.: The Xerces Society.

5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Natural Common name Scientific name enemies BeesBees MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBEROCTOBER 1. wild strawberry Fragaria virginiana 2. golden Alexanders Zizia aurea 3. Canada anemone Anemone canadensis Native Flowering Plants that Attract 4. penstemon/hairy beardtongue Penstemon hirsutus Beneficial Insects 5. angelica Angelica atropurpurea 6. cow parsnip Heracleum maximum 7. sand coreopsis/lanceleaf tickseed Coreopsis lanceolata The bloom periods shown for the native perennials 8. shrubby cinquefoil Potentilla fruticosa are for 2-year-old plants growing in full sun in 2005 9. Indian hemp Apocynum cannabinum in Ingham County, Michigan. Bloom times will 10. late figwort Scrophularia marilandica vary between years and locations. All plants are 11. swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata native to the north central United States; many are 12. Culver’s root Veronicastrum virginicum native to the eastern United States. Check with local 13. yellow coneflower Ratibida pinnata resources to determine if they are native to your area. 14. nodding wild onion Allium cernuum 15. meadowsweet Spiraea alba 16. yellow giant hyssop Agastache nepetoides 17. horsemint/spotted beebalm Monarda punctata 18. Missouri ironweed missurica 19. cup plant Silphium perfoliatum 20. pale Indian plantain Cacalia atriplicifolia 21. boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum 22. blue lobelia Lobelia siphilitica 23. pale-leaved sunflower Helianthus strumosus 24. Riddell’s goldenrod Solidago riddellii Entire bloom period. www.nativeplants. 25. New England aster Aster novae-angliae Yellow area shows peak bloom. msu.edu 26. smooth aster Aster laevis

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26