Bilpin, Blue Mountains: NSW Powerful pollinators Encouraging insect pollinators in farm landscapes Pollinators are an essential component of agricultural production and of healthy, biodiverse landscapes. Protecting and enhancing pollinator resources on farms will help support a diverse range of pollinators. This brochure provides an introduction to encouraging insect pollinators on farms, including a guide to choosing plants that will support diverse pollinators throughout the year. The power of pollinators Pollinators – mostly insects, but also birds and mammals – assist the formation of seeds and fruit in many plant species by visiting flowers in search of food (nectar and/or pollen). Whilst foraging they transfer pollen from one flower to another, facilitating fertilization, which results in fruits and seeds. Honey bees, native bees and other native insects like hoverflies, wasps and butterflies provide essential © Amy-Marie Gilpin pollination services for native plants, Native vegetation supports pollinators by providing food and nesting sites. Nearby crops and garden flowers, fruits and vegetables. pastures will benefit from the increased abundance and diversity of pollinators in the landscape. Pollinators and food security Insect populations are in decline Backyard biodiversity Without insect pollinators, the quantity worldwide due to land clearing, Insect pollinators are a prime example and diversity of food and flowers intensive or monocultural of the importance of healthy ecosystems grown in backyard gardens would be agriculture, pesticide use, in urban gardens, parks and reserves. severely restricted. Many of the foods Insects are the ‘canaries in the coal mine’ we eat, from gardens and farms, pollution, colony disease, of our urban and rural environments. benefit from pollination. increased urbanisation and Without our ‘littlest creatures’, we lack Pollinator-dependent foods include climate change. Low pollinator pollinators, natural beneficial pest control services, and critical food source citrus, apples, stone-fruits, zucchini, numbers mean not all flowers pumpkins, strawberries and tomatoes, for other insects, birds, amphibians, as well as plants grown for seed such are pollinated, leading to low reptiles and mammals. as sunflowers, coriander and parsley. fruit or seed set. This in turn The presence of connected and The quantity and diversity of insect reduces fruit and vegetable widespread pollinator habitat is critical pollinators are key drivers of production harvest yields, and decreases to support insect populations if we as they influence both food yields and are to maintain sustainable cities and quality. Under-pollination results in food supply. productive, healthy gardens and urban smaller and misshapen fruit or seed farms for food security and biodiversity. that isn’t viable to grow. Pollinators require habitat that contains A diverse and healthy community of year-round food sources, breeding pollinators generally provides more resources and nesting sites. The presence effective and consistent pollination than relying on any single species. of pollinator habitat adjacent to food crops has been shown to improve Pollinators are essential to, and food production by enabling a greater dependent upon, healthy ecosystems. variety and number of pollinators A growing human population and to persist year-round, providing increasing demand for food puts pollination services when required. pressure on ecosystems, with potential © Sustainable Farms negative impacts on biodiversity, the Under-pollination results in smaller, Turn to the centre of this brochure for environment and food production. misshapen fruit such as this strawberry. a guide to planting for pollinators. this period insect pollinators do not need pollen creating a ‘food desert’ where Diapause or diet? flowers. Birds and other small mammals insect pollinators cannot survive. will continue to benefit from available Where are the insects? There are still many unknowns about pollen and nectar during this time. insect pollinators in Australia. Take part Many insect pollinators undergo a If there are low numbers of insect in Australian Pollinator Week or in the diapause during colder winter months. pollinators in your local area, it is bi-annual Wild Pollinator Count to learn Diapause is a period of suspended important to determine whether this is more about pollinators in your area — development during unfavourable because of diapause, or because of an visit AustralianPollinatorWeek.org.au environmental conditions, and during inadequate availability of nectar and and WildPollinatorCount.com 1 Encouraging pollinators in your garden Create pollination reservoirs Construct insect real estate Get to know your local flora Pollination reservoirs are areas that Insect hotels, which are both functional Your local government area has distinct provide floral resources for pollinators. and attractive, are a great way to populations of insects, depending They can be gardens, new planting add to habitat and nesting places for on the local flora and environment. or existing habitat such as established pollinators and insects in your backyard Knowing your local insect species will trees, or even local bushland, parks or garden. The hotels are easily moved help you develop better plantings. or reserves. A high diversity of plant to be close to flowering plants and The plants growing in nearby nature species is essential to provide nectar, those needing pollination, especially reserves or bushland will be suited pollen and nesting sites throughout if you have a new garden that is still to your climate and soils. Local the year. Pollination reservoirs need growing. Include lots of different environment groups and specialist to be close enough to where pollinators sized holes, cracks and crevices to native nurseries can provide live to ensure that they can fly easily provide homes for various solitary information about local plants. to them. insect pollinators. Improve on what you have Plant for the future Grow a bumper crop Enhance and improve your existing pollinator habitat where possible. When establishing pollinator habitat, Pollinator-attracting plants include Gardens that already contain consider including species that are many fruits and vegetables grown established trees, rockeries, ponds, indigenous to your area but can in backyards, community and market bare soil and organic matter, and tolerate increasingly drier and warmer gardens, and orchards. Pollinators a variety of flowering plants, are conditions, to create resilient habitat ensure good yields of crops such as a valuable resource for beneficial for climate change. Rehabilitate apples, beans, avocado, and almonds, insects and pollinators. weedy areas into managed pollination and bush foods such as yam daisy. reservoirs by introducing lots of Nature-strips, verges, laneways, flowering plant diversity. Be careful Reduce chemical use vegetable gardens, orchards, nature not to plant invasive or listed weeds, reserves, and riverbanks and creeks Insecticides, fungicides and herbicides, and look for suitable replacements. can all be important pollinator-attracting even ‘natural’ products, all affect areas. Protect and enhance native pollinator health. Herbicides can pollinator plants in your garden and Amplify the flower signal reduce or eradicate the availability surrounds for the future. Plants have evolved large flowers or and diversity of flowers, and plants that clusters of smaller flowers because support insect life. Most insecticides Plant trees, shrubs and groundcovers they attract more pollinator visits. are non-specific, killing both beneficial Planting a variety of species of Large, colourful and diverse plantings insects and pests. groundcovers, shrubs and trees to attract more pollinators. Ideally, plant in There are other means of protecting in your garden will further attract groups that contain different vegetation pollinators to your patch. Initial plants, such as with approved netting, layers — combine a species-rich mixture watering and protection will improve and pest-repellent plants like marigolds of wildflowers, ground-covers, herbs, the success rate of young plants. and lavender. lilies, rushes, climbers, shrubs and trees. Some species such as wildflowers When pollinators are allowed to or native pea species are excellent Connectivity counts flourish, they help control pest insects. pollinator attractors and reward Consider wildflowers instead of lawn, careful attention by keen gardeners. Insect pollinators benefit from greater or let dandelions flower instead of connectivity of habitat in a landscape, mowing or spraying. Be a citizen scientist and do some which allows them to forage over a detective work to discover local wider radius and increase in numbers If chemical usage is unavoidable, pollinators in your patch. Visit in a local area. Encourage friends and choose low impact, non-systemic inaturalist.ala.org.au to be involved. neighbours to plant for pollinators and products, and apply when pollinators create connections in your community. are less active. Always follow directions. Safeguard the bees? The best way to ‘save the bees’ and protect our pollinators is to create an abundance of diverse habitat — from the ground up! There is much interest in keeping a bee hive to promote pollinators, but there are serious legal and biosecurity responsibilities that must be considered, and that the introduction of a bee hive does not displace existing native pollinators and insects.