OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES FACT SHEET ENT-47-14 Attracting to the Garden Denise Ellsworth, Department of Entomology

Gardeners are increasingly concerned about the sta- tus of pollinators in Ohio. Important pollinators such as , bumble bees and monarch butterflies have gained attention in recent years due to concerns about declining populations. Pollinators are vital to the produc- tion of many food crops and provide a service essen- tial to the survival of many native plants. Fortunately, gardeners can take steps to support these and other pollinators through plant selection and simple garden- ing practices. This fact sheet describes the importance of pollinators, their role in the ecosystem, and actions gardeners can take to help populations in their yards and gardens.

Swallowtail butterfly drinks nectar from bottlebrush buckeye flowers. depend on repeat visits by pollinators, so many offer small rewards repeated at regular intervals to encour- age return trips.

How Pollinators Find Flowers Flowers use a variety of strategies to attract pollina- tors, including petal color, scent, UV light patterns and nectar guides. Bees in particular use floral qualities such

Bumble visits aster flower for and nectar.

What Is Pollination? Pollination is the movement of pollen from the male part (anther) of one flower to the female part (pistil) of another flower. Without pollination, most plants can’t make seeds and fruits. Many plants are wind pollinated (e.g., grasses, small grain crops, and conifers), but others rely on animals, primarily , to carry pollen from flower to flower. Plants attract pollinators by offering rewards, such as pollen, nectar and floral oils. Flowers also provide shelter Lines and coloration on petals help pollinators quickly and gathering places for pollinating insects. Flowers find rewards.

extension.osu.edu agnr.osu.edu Attracting Pollinators to the Garden—page 2 as polarized light patterns, petal texture, temperature, Bees also for food close to their nesting sites, humidity, and electrostatic charge to help them locate a practice called central place foraging. Bees visit one or flowers. only a few flowering species during each foraging trip, even when other flowers are available. This behavior, The Importance of Animal Pollinators called flower fidelity or flower constancy, makes bees Animal pollinators are essential to the food we eat. especially reliable couriers to move pollen to receptive Some scientists estimate that one in three bites of food flowers. we take can be traced back to the role of animal pol- The western is the most dependable agri- linators. A 2012 study at Cornell University estimates cultural pollinator of many crops. It is not native to North that bees and other pollinators contribute $29 America. Ohio is home to approximately 500 native bee billion annually to U.S. farm income by pollinating 58 species. These diverse bees play important roles as crops, including almonds, apples, berries and squash. pollinators of agricultural crops and native plants. (See Pollinators play a key role in the production of many Ohio Bee Identification Guide at go.osu.edu/ohiobees foods in the home garden. to learn more about Ohio’s native bees.) In addition to their role on farms and gardens, pol- Bees can be divided into three broad groups: social linators are essential to the survival of native plants. bees (bumble bees), solitary ground-nesting bees (such Approximately 75% of all plant species depend on animal as mining bees), and solitary cavity-nesting bees (includ- pollinators to move pollen from plant to plant. Without ing mason bees and leafcutting bees). the work of pollinators, many native plants couldn’t Bees are often confused with . Wasps may visit produce seeds to ensure the plant’s next generation. flowers for nectar, but they rely on insects or spiders—not These seeds and the fruit that often accompany them pollen—to feed their young. Solitary wasps are beneficial also provide important food sources for approximately predators; they are rarely aggressive. Social wasps, such 25% of birds and many mammal species. as yellowjackets and hornets can become aggressive Key animal pollinators include honey bees, native and may sting repeatedly. bees, flies, moths and other insects, as well as birds Social bees like bumble bees will usually only sting and some mammals. when defending their nest. Solitary bees such as min- ing bees and leafcutting bees are not aggressive. Many of these bees can’t penetrate human skin with their stingers. Animal pollinators and bees in particular are cur- rently facing many threats, such as lack of forage (flow- ers for food), pests, pathogens, pesticides, invasive plants, climate change and lack of suitable nesting sites. Gardeners can play an important role in pollina- tor conservation by providing plants and nesting sites for pollinators and by adapting gardening practices to protect pollinators.

The is a key agricultural pollinator. (Photo courtesy of Karina Weatherby.)

Bees: Essential Pollinators Bees are considered the most important pollina- tors because they are uniquely adapted to gather and transport pollen. Bees rely on flowers for food to feed their young, so they actively seek out and visit flowers. Bees’ fuzzy bodies and branched hairs help female bees collect pollen into special structures, such as pollen baskets on the hind legs or long hairs on the thorax or abdomen. Native mining bees frequently nest in sandy soils on south-facing slopes. Attracting Pollinators to the Garden—page 3

What Gardeners Can Do Grow More Flowers Trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants can provide food and nesting habitat for pollinators. An abundance of different flower shapes, sizes, and colors will appeal to a variety of pollinators. Grouping plants together in sunny locations helps pollinators find and feed on desirable flowers while expending less energy in the search for plants. By observing flowers in the garden and taking note of any flower visitors, gardeners can learn which plants are most attractive to pollinators. Additionally, many plant lists are available to help with the selection of Early-blooming maples provide an important pollen and nectar plants for pollinators (find plant lists at go.osu.edu/ source for bees in early spring. gardensandbees). Different flower shapes and colors attract different trees such as maples, willows and redbuds, and late- pollinators. For example, red tubular flowers with a nectar season perennials like asters and goldenrod provide reward tend to attract hummingbirds. Daisy-like flowers important food at especially critical times. Consult www. that provide nectar and pollen in shallow flowers are oardc.ohio-state.edu/gdd/ for a sequence of native and often visited by bees and flies with shorter mouthparts. non-native woody flowering plants for Ohio. Some cultivars and hybrids don’t offer the pollen and nectar rewards that so-called “straight species” Key Plants for Pollinators do, since the quality and quantity of nectar and pollen While literally hundreds of garden plants provide are sometimes lost during breeding. Plants bred with important sources of nectar and pollen for pollinators, “double” flower petals are often inaccessible to pollina- try these garden-worthy additions: tors. Gardeners can include less refined plants along • Trees: maple, crabapple, linden, serviceberry with plant cultivars to offer broad pollinator appeal. • Shrubs: ninebark, pussy willow, sumac, viburnum • Perennials: aster, hyssop, milkweed, purple coneflower • Annuals: cosmos, marigold, sunflower, zinnia • Herbs: basil, borage, catmint, lavender, oregano

Caterpillar Host Plants While adult butterflies will drink nectar from many types of flowers, immature caterpillar stages require spe- cific plant species to complete development. Monarch caterpillars require milkweed plants, pearl crescent caterpillars feed on New England asters, and black swallowtail caterpillars feed on plants in the carrot family Some cultivars with complex petal arrangements and unusual such as parsley and dill. Include butterfly host plants as colors are less attractive to pollinators, such as this ‘Hot Papaya’ well as flowers that provide a nectar source to attract purple coneflower. egg-laying adult butterflies. Learn more about specific Bloom Through the Season caterpillar food requirements in the ODNR field guide Different species of bees, butterflies and other pol- “Butterflies and Skippers of Ohio” at flipseekllc.com/ linators are active in Ohio at different times of the year. wildohio2009butterfly.html. Queen bumble bees, mourning cloak butterflies and blue orchard bees are active in early spring. Monarch Vegetable Garden Pollination butterflies, worker bumble bees and worker honey bees Flowers planted in and near vegetable gardens and forage from spring into the cooler days of autumn. fruit plantings help bring pollinators and other beneficial Gardeners can help pollinators by planting flowers insects into the garden. Annuals, perennials and herbs with a sequence of bloom throughout the growing sea- provide important food sources for insect pollinators, son, from early spring through late fall. Early-blooming especially in the heat of summer. Consider planting Attracting Pollinators to the Garden—page 4 sunflowers, zinnias, marigolds and cosmos in or near the vegetable garden. Herbs such as lavender, basil, borage, dill, fennel, oregano and catnip will also attract many pollinators.

Plant Natives Locally native plants attract native pollinators. Native plants offer nectar, pollen and other nutrients in quanti- ties that native pollinators need. Consider adding more locally native trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants to the garden. Dandelions provide an important source of nectar and pollen for pollinators.

Provide Nesting Sites bumble bee nesting structures are generally considered Brush piles, dead standing trees and clumping grasses unsuccessful at attracting bumble bee queens. all provide important nesting and overwintering habitat for bees and butterflies. Cavity-nesting bees make their Other Considerations nests in the pith of twigs like elderberry or sumac, or A water source in the garden helps thirsty pollina- in abandoned beetle burrows in dead trees. Solitary tors, especially in the heat of summer. A shallow bowl ground-nesting bees usually nest in sandy, well-drained or birdbath can provide sufficient water. A few sticks soils on south-facing slopes. placed in the bowl will provide a place for bees and Artificial nesting sites can be made or purchased to other insects to land and perch, thus preventing insect encourage cavity-nesting bees. These structures require drowning. Additionally, a muddy puddle may be visited routine maintenance, and even periodic replacement, by pollinators like butterflies and mason bees. to prevent the build-up of bee pathogens and parasites. Limit pesticide use in the garden. Pesticides can have negative effects on bees and other insects, kill- ing them outright or affecting behavior, longevity or susceptibility to disease. Use an integrated pest man- agement approach with multiple strategies to reduce pest damage. Contact your local Ohio State University Extension office for pest management assistance (see extension.osu.edu). Many plants frequently considered weeds do provide food for pollinators, including dandelions, milkweed, goldenrod and clover. Consider tolerating weeds with benefits to pollinators. On the other hand, many invasive weeds outcompete native plants important to pollinators. Eliminate invasive weeds such as privet, garlic mustard, and buckthorn. To learn more about pollinators and pollinator plants, Bumble bees will frequently nest under clump-forming grasses. consult these resources: • The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation: Bumble bees prefer to nest in pre-existing cavities xerces.org with some form of insulation such as old rodent nests or bird nests, both above and below ground. They will also • Pollinator Partnership: pollinator.org nest under clumps of grass. Purchased or constructed • The Ohio State University Bee Lab: beelab.osu.edu

Ohio State University Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all research and related educational programs are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. This statement is in accordance with United States Civil Rights Laws and the USDA. Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration; Associate Dean, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences; Director, Ohio State University Extension; and Gist Chair in Extension Education and Leadership. For Deaf and Hard of Hearing, please contact Ohio State University Extension using your preferred communication (e-mail, relay services, or video relay services). Phone 1-800-750-0750 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday. Inform the operator to dial 614-292-6181. Copyright © 2014, The Ohio State University Ohio Bee Identification Guide

Scott Prajzner and Mary Gardiner, Department of Entomology, The Ohio State University OARDC, Wooster, OH

Bees are beneficial insects that pollinate flowering plants by transferring pollen from one flower to another. This is important for plant reproduction and food production. In fact, pollinators are responsible for 1 out of every 3 bites of food you take. While the honey bee gets most of the credit for providing pollination, there are actually about 500 bee species in Ohio! ©KevinMatteson commons.wikimedia.org commons.wikimedia.org

Using this guide: This card provides key features Matteson©Kevin needed to identify 10 types of bees found in home Honey bee (Apis mellifera) 12-15mm Bumble bee (Bombus spp.) 8-21mm landscapes. Below each set of photos you will find the Light to dark brown body with pale and dark hairs Black body, extensively covered with black and common name, scientific name, and size range of the bee or in bands on abdomen. Pollen basket present. yellow hairs on all body segments. Pollen basket group of bees pictured. Be sure to consider the nesting habits Abdomen barrel-shaped. Head heart-shaped. present. Robust body. Long face. and behaviors listed when making identifications. The following symbols will help along the way: Colonies nest in man-made hives, in the open, Colonies nest underground, commonly in old and in cavities. Swarm to locate new nest. rodent burrows. Common nesting locations. Honey bees have hairy eyes. Bumble bees pollinate in cool, cloudy weather when most bees are at home. Behaviors to watch for. Additional ID features that may be seen with the aid of a hand lens. How to Identify Bees All bees have three body segments, a Shyamal

head, thorax and abdomen. The head © commons.wikimedia.org ©Ted Kropiewnicki ©Ted is where large multi-faceted eyes, long Russo ©Laura 15-23mm slender antennae, and cutting Kropiewnicki ©Ted Leaf cutting bee (Megachile spp.) 7-15mm Large Carpenter bee (Xylocopa spp.) mouthparts are found. The thorax is Black body with light or dark hairs. Pollen-carrying Black body with light or dark hairs. Pollen-carrying the middle segment where the wings hairs beneath abdomen. Some have rather pointy hairs on rear legs. Similar body shape to bumble and legs attach. Last is the abdomen, abdomens. Head is as broad as the thorax with bee, but abdomen shiny and mostly lacking hair. which for female bees ends in a sting. Special pollen- large mouthparts used to cut leaves. Round face. carrying hairs unique to female bees resemble dense Solitary, but nest in aggregations in above- Nests are burrowed into wood, often in broom bristles, and are commonly found on the rear legs ground pre-existing holes, natural or man-made. roof eaves. or the underside of the abdomen. Some carry pollen in an They cut circular pieces from leaves which almost hairless, flattened pollen basket on the rear legs. are used to line their nests. Fly fast and erratically like a hummingbird. A Bee, or not a Bee? Some insects that you will see visiting flowers are bee mimics. While they are not bees, they may resemble them in appearance. But don’t despair! Simple characteristics will allow you to decide if what you are looking at is indeed a bee. Common bee mimics are flies and wasps. A fly has only 2 wings, ©Julianna Tuell ©Julianna commons.wikimedia.org commons.wikimedia.org commons.wikimedia.org while a bee has 4. They have sucking mouth parts, without the Sweat bee (Halictidae spp.) 3.5-11mm Small carpenter bee (Ceratina spp.) 5-8mm jaw-like mouthparts of a bee, and their antennae are not long and Two forms: 1) bright metallic green or 2) black/brown Dark blue-green and shiny, appearing hairless on all slender like a bee, but short and stubby or feathery. Some, but with light bands of hair on the abdomen. Pollen- body segments. Pollen-carrying hairs on rear legs. not all flies are easy to spot because their eyes meet in the center at the top of their head. carrying hairs on rear legs. Slender body. Slender with shield-shaped abdomen. A has 4 wings, chewing mouthparts, a sting, and long Nest in the soil, solitary to communal nesters. Solitary, nest in twigs and stems. antennae like a bee. However wasps are smooth and almost hairless, while bees are generally covered with hair on their Pale yellow marks on face. Females have bodies and legs. Wasps also tend to have slender waists and they Some are attracted to the salt in your sweat. vertical bar, while males have upside-down “T”. will never have pollen-carrying hairs. Certain wasps make paper nests you will find hanging from a tree or building, while bees do not. A final clue: If your insect is eating another insect, it may be a fly or wasp. Bees are vegetarians and only eat pollen and nectar from flowers.

©Ted Kropiewnicki ©Ted Now that you are a bee and bee mimic expert, try your hand at ©Luc Viatour ©Luc commons.wikimedia.org ©Ted Kropiewnicki ©Ted identifying these insects. Answers are at the bottom. Mason bee (Osmia spp.) 7-16mm Mining bee (Andrena spp.) 5.5-15mm Two forms: 1) black body covered in pale hairs or 2) Black with light or dark hairs. Slender. Pollen- Grimm dull metallic green-blue and less hairy. Pollen-carrying carrying hairs on rear legs and side of thorax, - hairs beneath abdomen. Head as broad as thorax, appearing to carry pollen in its “armpit”. 2 3 robust body. Brambilla ©Fabio ©Fritz Geller

1 Alves Gaspar ©Joaquim Solitary, but nest in aggregations in above- Dig solitary ground nests. Prefer sandy soils. ground pre-existing holes, natural or man-made. Shallow depressions between their eyes and Collect mud to line their nests. antennae hold short velvety hairs.

©Tony Wills ©Tony 5 6 ©Joaquim Alves Gaspar ©Joaquim 4 ©Jerry Friedman ©Jerry

7 ©Nelson Debarros ©Nelson Debarros ©Nelson commons.wikimedia.org ©Pennsylvania Department of of Department ©Pennsylvania Agriculture 11-14mm 8-16mm 9 Squash bee (Peponapis pruinosa) Long horned bee (Melissodes spp.) 8 ©Nelson Debarros ©Nelson ©Richard Bartz ©Richard Brown body covered in dense light hair on the thorax Black body covered in dense pale or dark hairs. tea ©Bomb and in bands on abdomen. Pollen-carrying hairs on rear Pollen-carrying hairs on rear legs may be very long. legs. Long antennae. Appear to have protruding “nose”. Stout-bodied. Males have extremely long antennae. For more information, visit us online at: Ground nesting, mostly near squash and oardc.osu.edu/gardinerlab

pumpkin fields. Solitary to communal ground nesters. Gardinerlab.blogspot.com

bee) cutting (Leaf bee

Only collects pollen from squash/pumpkin plants. Some are especially attracted to asters, 9) Wasp 8) 7)Fly Bee 6) Wasp 5) sunflowers, and daisies. Bee 4) Fly 3) beetle lady eating Fly 2) nest Wasp 1) Answers: