Metropolitan & Greater Melbourne: South East Powerful pollinators Encouraging insect pollinators in urban environments & gardens Pollinators are an essential component of our cities and suburbs. Enhancing pollinator resources to support a diverse range of beneficial insects is important for flourishing gardens, sustainable backyards, healthy green spaces, and thriving ecosystems. The Powerful Pollinators Guide provides an introduction to encouraging insect pollinators in the south-eastern suburbs and surrounds of urban Melbourne. 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 © Dreamstime pollination services for native plants, Increasing the abundance and diversity of native plants in urban landscapes garden flowers, fruits and vegetables. supports pollinators by providing a range of food sources and nesting sites. 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 Grow a bumper crop Plant for the future Enhance and improve existing pollinator Pollinator-attracting plants include habitat where possible. Gardens that When establishing pollinator habitat, many fruits and vegetables grown already contain elements such as consider including species that are in backyards, community and market large trees, rockeries, water sources, indigenous to your area but can gardens, and orchards. Pollinators bare soil and organic matter, and tolerate increasingly drier and warmer ensure good yields of crops such as a variety of flowering plants are a conditions, to create resilient habitat apples, beans, avocado, and almonds, valuable resource for beneficial insects for climate change. Rehabilitate and bush foods such as lilly-pilly and and pollinators. weedy areas into managed pollination yam daisy. reservoirs by introducing lots of Nature-strips and verges, ponds, flowering plant diversity. Be careful vegetable gardens, orchards, bushland, Reduce chemical use not to plant invasive or listed weeds, grassland, and river and creek edges and look for suitable replacements. Insecticides, fungicides and herbicides, can all be important pollinator-attracting even ‘natural’ products, all affect areas. Protect and enhance any native pollinator health. Herbicides can pollinator plants in your garden or on Amplify the flower signal reduce or eradicate the availability your property for the future. Plants have evolved large flowers or and diversity of flowers, and plants that clusters of smaller flowers because Plant trees, shrubs and groundcovers support insect life. Most insecticides 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 in your garden will further attract groups that contain different vegetation There are other means of protecting pollinators to your patch. Initial layers — combine a species-rich mixture plants, such as with approved netting, watering and protection will improve of wildflowers, ground-covers, herbs, and pest-repellent plants like marigolds the success rate of young plants. lilies, rushes, climbers, shrubs and trees. and lavender. 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 non-systemic products, and inaturalist.ala.org.au to be involved. neighbours to plant for pollinators and apply when pollinators are less active. create connections in your community. 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