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Protecting and Enhancing Pollinators in Urban Landscapes for the US

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Protecting and Enhancing Pollinators in Urban Landscapes for the US Rebecca Finneran, MSU Extension MSU Extension bulletin E3314 By David Smitley, Michigan State University Department of Entomology; Diane Brown and Erwin Elsner, Michigan State University Extension; Joy N. Landis, Michigan State University IPM; Paula M. Shrewsbury, University of Maryland Department of Entomology; and Daniel A. Herms, The Ohio State University Department of Entomology Introduction For the past 30 years or more, most tree care pro- natural defenses (resistance) to invasive pests from fessionals, landscapers, urban foresters and many Europe or Asia, and (2) invasive pests populations informed property owners have been managing may build rapidly because we do not have the right destructive insects by minimizing pesticide use and predators and parasitoids to control them as in their encouraging predators and parasites that naturally native habitat. keep pests under control. This approach is referred to as Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and it includes Emerald ash borer, Japanese beetle and hemlock using Best Management Practices (BMP) for preserv- wooly adelgid are currently some of our most destruc- ing benefcial insects. In most states, landscape pro- tive invasive insects. Homeowners, business property fessionals must attend educational classes on pesti- owners and cities sometimes choose to use a pesti- cide safety and best management practices to receive cide to protect roses, ash, hemlock and other trees their pesticide applicator license, a requirement for and shrubs susceptible to invasive insects. However, purchasing restricted use pesticides. Minimizing when insecticides are used for invasive pests, they pesticide use along with implementing other IPM prac- may impact pollinators and other benefcial insects tices protects water resources from pesticide runoff, and mites, including predators and parasitoids that minimizes the exposure of people, pets and wildlife to keep plant pests under control. This publication is pesticides, and provides stable long-term pest control designed to provide best management practices for instead of the frequent boom and bust pest cycles protecting a few valuable plants from invasive pests associated with preventive use of broad-spectrum while minimizing the impact on pollinators and ben- pesticides. efcial insects. Note: When using any pesticide men- tioned in this bulletin, read the label instructions and The primary reason tree care professionals and be sure the product is registered for use in the state property owners use pesticides is because of the where it is being used. devastating impact of invasive pests from Europe and Asia. Invasive pests multiply and sometimes com- pletely destroy species of North American plants for two reasons: (1) our North American plants may lack 1 Protecting and enhancing pollinators in urban landscapes Table of Contents 2 Pollinators in urban landscapes 3 Factors that threaten pollinator health 4 Creating, maintaining pollinator-friendly habitat 4 Better habitat for bees 4 Annuals attractive to bees table 5 Herbaceous perennials attractive to bees table 6 Shrubs attractive to bees table Jason Gibbs, MSU Entomology 7 Trees attractive to bees table This mason bee is a native pollinator. 8 Wind-pollinated trees attractive to bees table 9 Wildfowers attractive to bees table 9 Landscape plants and wildfowers attractive to be brought in and out of orchards and felds easily. butterfies for nectar feeding Honey bees have been estimated to pollinate 30 to 90 10 Herbaceous plants attractive to butterfies table percent of many fruit crops, with native bee species 10 Trees and shrubs attractive to butterfies table accounting for most of the remaining pollination. The 10 Flowers throughout the year proportion of fruit pollinated by honey bees varies 11 Planting for a succession of fowers table considerably among fruits and vegetables, and 11 Selection, planting and care of trees and shrubs depends on whether or not hives are brought into the to avoid the need for pesticides 12 Problem-prone plants likely to need pesticide orchard for the pollination period, and the local popu- treatment to remain healthy table lation of feral honey bees. 13 How to control invasive pests while protecting pollinators and other benefcial insects Most honey bee colonies are kept outside city limits 18 Do not spray highly attractive plants with and are managed by commercial beekeepers, how- insecticide before or during fowering ever, a growing number of small-scale beekeepers 18 Avoid spraying fowers with fungicides and hobbyists maintain colonies in urban landscapes. 18 Best Management Practices 19 Protecting susceptible trees and shrubs from Bees can fy well over a mile to search for pollen and invasive pests nectar, so colonies located within 3 miles of managed 21 Protecting imported and native trees from landscapes can be affected by the pesticides used. native pests 23 Phenological sequence table for timing pest In addition to honey bees, we have over 4,000 spe- management while protecting pollinators cies of native bees in the United States, along with 28 References fies, beetles, butterfies, wasps and other insects that Acknowledgements provide pollination services. Some of these native pol- Reviewers: Rich Cowles, Connecticut Agricultural linators play important roles in crop pollination and are Experiment Station; Elsa Youngsteadt, North Carolina critical for pollinating native plants. Native bees have State University; Meghan Milbrath, Rebecca Finneran and evolved in the region where they are found, so they Mary Wilson, Michigan State University. tend to be well adapted to the local climate, local fow- ering plants and may also have developed resistance Edit and design: Joy N. Landis and Mallory Fournier, to local diseases and parasites of bees. They are Michigan State University Integrated Pest Management Program sometimes called “wild” bees along with the non-na- tive species that are not managed by beekeepers. Native bees, butterfies and other pollinators are Pollinators in urban landscapes wildlife, deserving of protection in the same way Most plants need pollination to reproduce and grow birds such as raptors and songbirds are protected. fruit. While some plants are wind-pollinated, many Unfortunately, honey bee health is in decline, and require assistance from insects, bats, hummingbirds some native bees and butterfies are threatened. or other animals. Without pollinators, we would have Honey bees are well studied because of their eco- little to no fruit, fewer vegetables and many plant nomic importance. From April 1, 2014 to April 1, 2015, species would not survive. Gardeners and farmers the U.S. lost 42 percent of its honey bee colonies, and depend on pollinators to produce fruit and vegetable winter losses since 2006 are generally around 30 per- crops, and natural ecosystems need pollinators to cent every year. Beekeepers consider annual losses ensure healthy plant populations. For fruit and veg- of 15-20 percent to be acceptable, and losses greater etable crops, honey bees, which are from Europe, than this make it diffcult or impossible to remain prof- are the most important pollinators because they can itable. The Xerces Society reports that in recent years 2 Protecting and enhancing pollinators in urban landscapes monarch populations have declined by more than 80 percent from the 21-year average across North America. Declines have been reported for native bee populations as well, however, for most native species we do not have adequate information on how many were here in the frst place. Factors that threaten pollinator health Most researchers agree that a combination of factors is causing declines in bee and pollinator populations, including parasites, pathogens, loss of habitat or fowers that provide pollen and nectar, and pesticide exposure. Each of these has been found to negatively Rebecca Finneran, MSU Extension affect bees, but there is also evidence the combi- Help pollinators by planting more fowers. nation of stresses is especially harmful. Bees and for insects than mammals, and safer for humans to other pollinators depend on fowers for food – nectar use than most old classes of insecticides. They are provides carbohydrates, while pollen is their source toxic when ingested or through direct contact. The of protein. Flowerless landscapes like mowed lawns most widely used neonicotinoids – imidacloprid, with strict weed control, heavily paved areas of cities thiamethoxam, clothianidin and dinotefuran – are all and felds with no plant diversity contain little food for highly toxic to bees. Products containing these active bees which leads to poor nutrition and compromised ingredients have bee-warning boxes on the label with immune systems. Nutritionally weakened bees are important instructions for limiting bee exposure that more susceptible to disease and pesticides. must be followed. However, corn and soybean seed coated with a neonicotinoid do not have bee-warning Many pests and pathogens also affect bees. The labels. Neonicotinoids move upwards in xylem sap Varroa mite, a parasite of honey bees, is one of the internally within plants when applied to the plant’s most destructive factors causing honey bee decline. base (to roots via a soil application, or to the stem via Other parasites and pathogens may become a more injection or a basal spray), where they can later reach serious problem in hives weakened by Varroa mite. nectar and pollen. Pesticides remain primarily in leaf tissue following a foliar spray. In some cases, the fowers
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