HENRICO—As flowers bloom and fresh produce fills farmstands across Virginia, June shines a spotlight on the pollinators that help make those things possible.
National Pollinator Month recognizes the critical role pollinators like birds, bats, bees, butterflies, beetles and other wildlife play in our lives, while encouraging people to create and protect their habitats. And the month’s centerpiece, National Pollinator Week, will be observed June 22-28 this year.
Pollinators are responsible for more than vibrant gardens. The Pollinator Partnership reports one out of every three bites of food people eat is possible because of pollinators, with at least 75% of food crops relying on them. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates pollinators contribute $18 billion annually to crop production.
But pollinator populations continue to decline from climate change, habitat loss, pesticide use, parasites and pathogens.
Stephen Living, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources habitat coordinator, said effectively supporting pollinators means considering “the whole structure” of pollinator habitats—food sources, spaces for nesting, reproduction and shelter.
“A lot of native bees are ground nesting, so providing areas of bare ground is valuable,” Living advised. “And keep some fallen leaves where possible.”
A well-designed habitat also includes a variety of flowering plants and resources year-round. DWR offers Virginia Native Pollinator seed packets that include an assortment of native wildflowers beneficial to pollinators.
“When you’re doing a landscape from an aesthetics standpoint and want interest across the seasons, think about that from a wildlife perspective too,” he said. “Choose plants that bloom successively to provide resources across seasons.”
Trees and shrubs are equally important for a sustainable habitat. Native oak and black cherry trees support a range of butterflies and caterpillars.
The key is choosing native species.
“Native plants also feed the young insects, the larvae,” he said. “They support a much greater diversity and number of young insects than non-native plants do, and these in turn support wildlife like our songbirds.”
Living also suggested minimizing pesticides and using integrated pest management approaches to reduce impact on beneficial insects.
And while tools and garden features to support pollinators are abundant, use caution around certain trends—like popular bee hotels, which “can be valuable but have some pitfalls.
“They need to be carefully managed and cleaned out regularly, so we don’t create concentrations of harmful parasites,” he advised. “Do some research and find some that can be maintained and cleaned.”
He suggested skipping butterfly houses, since “butterflies aren’t using those.”
The DWR’s Habitat at Home initiative offers guidelines and resources for creating pollinatorand wildlife-friendly spaces, along with opportunities for recognition. Visit bit.ly/43uS3cx.
For more information on native plants for pollinators, visit Plant Virginia Natives at plantvirginianatives.org.
-Virginia Farm Bureau
