Honey bees produce more than a delicious, sticky sweetener. They are also widely used to pollinate crops. It has been estimated that one third of our food depends on the pollination efforts of insects. Honey bees get much of the credit for that work, but they only represent a handful of the hundreds of insect species that are capable of transporting pollen from one flower to another.
New Hampshire is home to over 100 species of native bees. Honey bees are not included in that list because they were imported, along with apple trees, nearly 400 years ago by European colonists.
The native bees come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors. They have coevolved with local plants and in some cases are quite specific about which plants they can pollinate. Some bees have long tongues for extracting nectar from tubular flowers. Short-tongued bees are better adapted at gathering nectar from sunflowers and daisy-like blooms.
Approximately 70 of our native bees are sweat bees. These colorful, often metallic-green bees live in the ground. They, along with the Eastern bumblebee (one of more than a dozen species of bumble bees found in NH), are so important that they are considered keystone species. That is to say that the loss of either of them would cause significant change to the ecosystem.
Bees are some of the best pollinators because many species have fine, feathery hairs on their bodies and little pollen baskets on their back legs, both of which facilitate efficient transportation of pollen grains. As they fly from plant to plant, foraging for nectar and pollen, they also pick up pollen on their bodies. They bring the pollen to the female part of a different flower, enabling fertilization and ultimately fruit formation. Without this transfer of material fruits such as apples, blueberries, squash, tomatoes and countless other food that we rely on would not be produced.
But bees are not the only creatures that help with pollination. Flies, beetles, butterflies and moths as well as hummingbirds all find reason to come to flowers for food and in the process pick up the pollen grain hitchhikers. These animal vectors all have special adaptations for success and survival. Close observation reveals beetles that match the color of the flowers that they frequent so are harder for predators to notice; or mimic flies, that look like bees but do not sting.
Most pollinators are quite harmless, and even those that are capable of stinging (the female bees and wasps) do so only if they are threatened or are defending their hive or nest. Because of this and the important services that they provide, homeowners can play an important role in helping these industrious creatures. They do need our help; in the eastern United States during the past 30 years, the populations of three different bumble bees have declined by over 90 percent. Pesticide use and loss or degradation of habitat are some of the main causes for this type of decline.
One of the most rewarding ways to help is to plant a pollinator garden. Gardening is a hobby enjoyed by many people, and with a bit of awareness and additional planning, a garden can be not only beautiful for people, but beneficial for tiny wildlife. The key is to provide a variety of plants so that there are blooms throughout the season, especially in the early spring and late fall. A variety of colors and shapes will attract a greater diversity of insects. Focus on native plants and be sure that they are free from pesticides. Ask your garden center how they were raised, avoid varieties that contain pesticides within the plant.
Another option is to mow less of your lawn and leave an area to grow plants for pollinators. Clover, wild strawberry and even dandelions are very attractive for pollinators and add color to your yard without any work. Don’t think of them as weeds – they are pollinator food! It’s also good to leave some bare ground, with no mulch. Many species of bees are ground nesters and need access to soil.
To learn more, visit these websites:
1.unh.edu/news/releases/2016/05/lw09bees.cfm
2.extension.unh.edu/Wildflower-Meadows/Pollinator-Habitat
3.petalsinthepines.com
4.nhaudubon.org/calendar/pollinator-party
5.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation