Why should we care and why

Should we save pollinators?

As with climate change and plastic accumulation in the environment, the decline in pollinator populations steadily progresses each year. Pollinators face diseases and habitat loss (mostly human causes). I'm sure most of you are already aware of this problem, but what does the decline really spell out for humans and the environment? In other words, what is the actual impact of pollinator species?

Food Supply

Did you know? About 1 in every 3 bites of food comes from a pollinated flower.

Could we survive without pollinators? The answer is surprisingly, yes. Not all crops rely on pollination. For example, wheat, rice, potatoes, and bananas are self-pollinating

crops. However, it's not likely that we'd thrive without pollinators. Without these helpful insects/birds/mammals, highly dependent crops like nuts, apples, and berries would suffer immense losses. Our diets would lack a lot of the nutrients from these fruits and vegetables.

Aside from declining crop yields, countries would lose money as well. In the US, pollinated crops account for about $10 billion dollars a year in sales.

It's clear that pollinators have a big impact on our food and health, but what else?

Plant Diversity

Not all plants rely on the same pollinators. But regardless of pollination preferences, many plant species would disappear along with pollinators if they ever became extinct. Globally, more than 75% of all types of plants rely on pollinators. That means pollinators sustain a large majority of unique plant species, and these plants help sustain other animals and parts of the ecosystem.

Similar to crops, a lot of wild plants

need pollinators to reproduce,

especially without humans to

maintain them. It's important to

protect pollinators for the sake of

our wild plants, since they

contribute clean air, water, and

other environmental benefits.

Yucca moths are specialists, only pollinating yucca flowers and eating yucca plants as caterpillars. These two species would not survive without each other.

Healthy Ecosystems

With all the talk about pollination, It's easy to forget that pollinators are part of the food web. In case you didn't know, a food web shows the relationship between different animals in an ecosystem, with roles like consumers (predators and prey), producers (plants), and more!

Insect pollinators are commonly primary consumers, eating from flowers and their host plants (producers). Higher level consumers rely on insect pollinators as part of their diet. In Ohio, a huge number of songbird species mainly eat butterfly and moth caterpillars. Bees and wasps serve as prey for spiders, praying mantids, birds, etc.

Overall, nature would lose both plant and animal species if pollinators disappeared.

Tertiary consumers

Secondary consumers

Primary consumers

Producers

But wait! It's not too late

With your help, pollinators can make a comeback. Now, you don't have to go all out and become a beekeeper. But there are plenty of ways to support pollinators--right from your own home!

Reducing Pesticide Use

Pests can destroy a garden, and it may be tempting to go for the strongest, most potent solution. While pesticides are effective against detrimental insects, they are equally effective against beneficial ones. The spray that gets rid of aphids is also hurting bees and butterflies! In fact, pesticide use has been cited as one of the reasons for many pollinator declines. Examples include monarchs, rusty-patched bumble bees, honey bees, and Diana fritillaries. With pollinator populations already decreasing, avoid making the problem worse by avoiding pesticide use.

Good news is there are plenty of natural alternatives you can use! From homemade leaf sprays to growing certain plants next to your crops, these remedies are gentler on beneficial insects but still effective against pests.

Natural Pest Deterrents

Homemade:

2% soap in water solution,
plant oils (peppermint, clove, cinnamon, thyme, lemongrass, neem, etc.)
vinegar

Predators:

ladybug larvae
lacewings
frogs
birds (chickadees, bluejays, cardinals, blackbirds, etc.)

Plants:

lavender
petunias
chive
garlic

leeks
lemongrass
rosemary
basil

Planting Native Flowers

Aster

Common Milkweed

Purple Coneflower

Dense Blazing Star

Habitat loss is a serious threat towards all types of pollinators. Flower-rich prairies, woodlands, and grasslands are being removed for housing and farmland, taking away the host plants and food sources that pollinators rely on. You can help pollinator populations rebound by providing some of these valuable resources--all while enjoying a beautiful garden!

Now, you might be wondering why it should be native flowers specifically. For one, native flowers are adapted to the climate and are pretty low maintenance. These flowers also help attract native pollinators, which may be fewer in number but are better adapted to pollinating native plants. Lastly, native flowers are beautiful additions to a garden...just take a look at these Ohio species!

Goldenrod

Bee Balm

Butterfly Weed

Wild Bergamot

Red Columbine

Yard Maintenance

Another way you can help combat habitat loss may come as a surprise...or even a delight depending on how much you like chores! Maintaining your yard for pollinators does not mean a clear cut, spotless lawn. In fact, it's usually the opposite. Bees and caterpillars rely on leaf litter to survive the winter. All stages of pollinator life--eggs, larvae, cocoons, and adults--benefit from ground cover during the overwintering season. That's why you can help by not removing all the leaves in fall. You can leave an area of your yard untouched or neatly rake the leaves in a pile. It's understandable if a slightly messier backyard is painful to look at...but I encourage you to consider it all the same!