Helping our Native
Pollinators
What is
Pollination?
Pollination
is the process where plants receive pollen from other plants of the same
species so they can reproduce and form seeds. Many plants are pollinated by animals,
and most of the animal pollinators are insects. The relationship between plants
and their insect pollinators is beneficial to both the plant and the
pollinator. The insect pollinator receives food, usually in the form of nectar,
while it spreads pollen from plant to plant aiding the plants reproduction. Pollination
is really just a “happy accident” that happens when an insect visits a flower
to get food. The insects do not know they are pollinating plants as they are
finding food for themselves.
Insects
have been pollinating plants for approximately 140 million years, since the
dawn of angiosperms (flowering plants). Flowering plants lure pollinators to
them with scent, visual cues, and food. Learn more about the process of
pollination: The Plant Pollination Process: http://www.buzzaboutbees.net/plant-pollination-process.html
Why We
Need Pollinators
More than
one-third of our food supply depends on pollinators. Without pollinators there
would be no apples, onions, oranges, pumpkins, and many other fruit and
vegetables. There would be no coffee, chocolate, nuts, or cotton for our
clothes. Without pollinators our world would be a much different place than it
is right now.
Produce
Section With And Without Bees
List of
crop plants pollinated by bees
Why you
should be more worried about pollination than a bee sting
Flower
Dissection
Gather
flowers from your yard or visit a local flower shop and get flowers to dissect.
Cut the flowers in half. Identify the different parts and talk about what they
are and how pollination works.
Pollination
Field Trip
Visit a
local apple orchard, garden, or even walk around your schoolyard this spring to
observe pollinators (bee, butterfly, moth, beetle, etc). Identify and record
each species you find. Note native vs. non-native pollinators.
Gardening
for Pollinators
Plan and
plant a school garden for pollinators. Already have a school garden? Add plants
for pollinators or devote a section to pollinators. Even growing a few
pollinator-friendly plants in containers can be beneficial!
Blank Park
Zoo: Plant. Grow. Fly.
Become part of a new conservation initiative to
help protect native pollinators! Whether you have several acres, a small back
yard, a schoolyard, or even a business courtyard – you can make a difference!
Plant seeds, watch them grow, and help our native pollinators thrive!
Other
things you can do to support pollinators
- Avoid or limit pesticide use at home and never use a neonicotinoid pesticide
- Buy organic produce
- Provide nesting sites, such as bee nesting blocks
Helpful Links
Iowa
Natural Heritage Foundation – Looking out for Iowa: Native Pollinators
Native
Pollinators: The Amazing World of Native Pollinators
Native Bee
Conservancy: Saving Our Wild Pollinators
Bee
Basics: An Introduction to Our Native Bees
Bug Guide:
Native Bees of North America
Animal
Pollination
USDA
Forest Service: Gardening for Pollinators
Planting a
Pollinator Garden
The Xerces
Society: Pollinator Gardens
Garden for
Wildlife
White
House Gets “First-Ever” Pollinator Garden, Milkweed Planted at 1600
Pennsylvania Ave.
