Let me tell you 'bout the flies and the bees and the wasps and the moths...
What are Native Pollinators (NPs)?
Native pollinators include numerous species of bees, wasps, flies, beetles, butterflies, moths, bats and hummingbirds, native to any given environment, in this case, North America. These species are “wild,” meaning they are not domesticated or farmed. Honey bees are important pollinators of many crops and wild plants, but they are both domesticated and not native to North America.
Why are they important?
Are pollinators in trouble?
What is happening to honey bees?
Can native pollinators take the place of honeybees?
Yes, to some extent. Recent research has revealed that native bees also make a significant contribution to crop pollination, in some cases providing all of the pollination required – when enough habitat is available.
This habitat is more important than ever as honey bee hives become more expensive and difficult to acquire.
Will improving habitat for native bees help honey bees too?
What do farmers, ranchers and conservationists need to know about establishing NP habitat?
They need more information about:
identifying native plants and their pollinators for different regions and environments
where and how to incorporate plantings of diverse wildflowers, native shrubs and trees
how to prepare a site for planting and how to control unwanted grasses and weeds in herbicide use is limited (as it may be to preserve polycultures of forbs and grasses)
relationships between native plants and crops, whether native plants may harbor pests or diseases or compete with crops and crop bloom