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Bee pollinating gaillardia

Getting to Know Native Bees and Other Pollinators

  1. Home
  2. Getting to Know Native Bees and Other Pollinators
  • By Kim Toscano
  • August 6, 2019
The honeybee is just one of countless pollinators; learn how to attract them

By Kimberly Toscano

The collapse of European honeybee colonies has received a lot of attention and for good reason. Bees pollinate one-third of the food on our plates – that is quite an important job! Many wildflowers, trees, and shrubs, including those in our gardens, are also pollinated by bees. While honeybees receive all the glory for crop pollination, hundreds of lesser-known native bee species do a large amount of the work. In fact, some crops, such as tomatoes, are only pollinated by native bees.

European honeybees certainly need protection, as do our native pollinators. In addition to native bees, butterflies and moths, many beetles and flies, and even ants and wasps contribute a great deal to the business of pollination. These pollinators also face population decline, primarily due to habitat loss. Pollinators need our help and our gardens need pollinators. So what is a gardener to do? Learn to recognize the pollinators in your garden and which plants provide a good source of nectar.

Bees

More than 4,000 species of native bees live across the United States. In addition to food crops, many wildflowers and ornamental plants also rely on bee pollination.

More than 4,000 species of native bees live across the United States. In addition to food crops, many wildflowers and ornamental plants also rely on bee pollination. Perhaps the easiest group of native bees to recognize are the large and furry bumble bees. Other common garden visitors include metallic-green sweat bees, squash bees, carpenter bees (which resemble bumble bees) and orchard bees. Bees are attracted to brightly-colored flowers in shades of blue and yellow, but they do not see red.

Echinacea: Crazy White™ and Crazy Pink™

Carolina Jessamine

‘Navaho’ Thornless Blackberry

Blackeyed Susan

Butterflies and Moths

We are all familiar with butterflies and their fame as pollinators. Less appreciated are moths, which pollinate gardens by day and night. The most common day-active species is the hummingbird clearwing, which can be seen hovering over flowers like its namesake. Does your evening garden boast fragrant, night-blooming flowers? Chances are these are pollinated by moths.

We are all familiar with butterflies and their fame as pollinators. Less appreciated are moths, which pollinate gardens by day and night. The most common day-active species is the hummingbird clearwing, which can be seen hovering over flowers like its namesake. Does your evening garden boast fragrant, night-blooming flowers? Chances are these are pollinated by moths.

Daylilies: ‘Chicago Apache’, ‘Bakabana’ and ‘Rocket City’

Ultra Violet™ Buddleia

Stars & Stripes™ Pentas

ScentAmazing™ Gardenia (moth-pollinated)

Beetles

One in four species on earth is a beetle. Yes, that is one in four of all species – plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria included. So it comes with little surprise that many beetles are pollinators. In fact, they are among Earth’s first insect pollinators. Ancient plant species like magnolia rely on beetles for pollination, as do pond lilies, spicebush, and spiraea.

One in four species on earth is a beetle. Yes, that is one in four of all species—plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria included. So it comes with little surprise that many beetles are pollinators. In fact, they are among Earth’s first insect pollinators. Ancient plant species like Magnolia rely on beetles for pollination, as do pond lilies, spicebush, and Spiraea. Common beetle pollinators include soldier beetles and flower beetles—look for them in the garden.

Little Bonnie™ Dwarf Spiraea

Dark Blue Moody Blues™ Veronica

Yarrow

Hummingbirds

You will find hummingbirds hovering among brightly-colored, tubular shaped flowers, particularly in shades of red. These winged jewels are important pollinators to many wild flowers. In addition to red, hummingbirds visit flowers in many bright hues from yellow and orange to pink and purple.

You will find hummingbirds hovering among brightly-colored, tubular shaped flowers, particularly in shades of red. These winged jewels are important pollinators to many wild flowers. In addition to red, hummingbirds visit flowers in many bright hues from yellow and orange to pink and purple.

Shining Sensation™ Weigela 

Ever Amethyst™ Agapanthus 

Bells of Fire™ Tecoma

Ember’s Wish™ Salvia 

Flies

Among the wide variety of flies are many that visit flowers – providing pollination along with additional services such as predation and parasitism of pests. Two species to look for in the garden are syrphid flies (also called hover flies or flower flies) and tachinid flies. Syrphid flies look like small, flat bees and visit many of the same flower species. Immature syrphid flies are voracious predators, feeding on aphids, scales, thrips, and caterpillars. You want them in your garden!

Don’t worry, we are not talking about houseflies or mosquitoes (though mosquitoes are pollinators). Among the wide variety of flies are many that visit flowers – providing pollination along with additional services such as predation and parasitism of pests. Two species to look for in the garden are syrphid flies (also called hover flies or flower flies) and tachinid flies. Syrphid flies look like small, flat bees and visit many of the same flower species. Immature syrphid flies are voracious predators, feeding onaphids, scales, thrips, and caterpillars. You want them in your garden!

‘Denver Daisy’ Blackeyed Susan

Gaillardia: ‘Sunset Flash’, and ‘Celebration’

Leucanthemum: ‘Real Charmer’ and ‘Real Glory’

Coreopsis

Wasps

Despite their bad reputation, wasps are actually very beneficial to the garden. They eat garden pests and many also contribute to pollination. Wasps range significantly in size, with some species measuring no larger than a pinhead. As such, they utilize a wide variety of flowers in the garden, depending on species.

Despite their bad reputation, wasps are actually very beneficial to the garden. They eat garden pests and many also contribute to pollination. Wasps range significantly in size, with some species measuring no larger than a pinhead. As such, they utilize a wide variety of flowers in the garden, depending on species.

Gaillardia: ‘Arizona Sun’ and ‘Sunset Orange’, ‘Celebration’ and ‘Sunset Flash’

Lantana:  Cosmic Firestorm™ and Firestorm®

Echinacea: Crazy Pink™ and Crazy White™

Coreopsis

Kim Toscano

Kimberly Toscano is a freelance writer, gardening expert and traveler with an eye on design. Kimberly blends her formal training in horticulture and entomology with her passion for design to educate and inspire gardeners.
View More Articles

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Plants Featured In The article

Blackberry

Prime-Ark® 'Freedom' Thornless Blackberry

Prime-Ark® Freedom Rubus hybrid ‘APF-153T’ PP26990
Salvia

Ember's Wish™ Salvia

Salvia hybrid ‘SAL010-1’ PP25183
Gardenia
Jubilation Gardenia bloom cluster amongst shiny dark green foliage

Jubilation™ Gardenia

Gardenia jasminoides ‘Leeone’ PP21983
Tecoma
Bright orange-yellow trumpet blooms of Bells of Fire Tecoma

Bells of Fire™ Tecoma

Tecoma stans ‘TEC6010916’ PP24170
Blackberry

'Osage' Thornless Blackberry

Rubus hybrid ‘Osage’ PP26120
Blackberry

'Navaho' Thornless Blackberry

Rubus Hybrid ‘Navaho’ PP6679
Veronica
Dark purple flower spikes sit atop bright green foliage of Dark Moody Blues Veronica

Dark Blue Moody Blues™ Veronica

Veronica spicata ‘Novaverblu’ PP26602
Agapanthus

Ever Amethyst™ Agapanthus

Agapathus hybrid ‘MP003’ PP30163

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