Pollinator Myths

The third week of June has been designated National Pollinator Week by the Pollinator Partnership. Though wind and water serve as pollinators, animals pollinate over three-quarters of plants in temperate regions such as Pennsylvania. Understanding pollinating beings and our impact on them goes a long way toward protecting them. To that end, let's look at some common misconceptions about pollinators.

Myth #1:

Pollinators are only important because they provide food for humans.

You may have heard that pollinators are responsible for one of every three bites of food we eat. True, but it's not the only reason we should care about pollinators. Pollination ensures the continuation of food crops and the perpetuation of the vast majority of flowering plants, which are vital to life on Earth.

Myth #2:

Honey bees are the only pollinators that we should support.

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) were imported from Europe to make honey and pollinate food crops. They are important pollinators because they can fly long distances and are generalists. However, there are around 400 native bee species in Pennsylvania that are intrinsically linked to the pollination of native plants, including edibles such as blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) and squash (Cucurbita spp.). Though honey bees have suffered population decreases in recent years due to habitat loss, pesticides, and disease, these factors can also impact native bees.

Myth #3:

Bees and butterflies are the only insects that pollinate.

Bees' bodies are the best suited to collect and move pollen since they use it to feed their young. Butterflies are pollinator favorites because of their beauty, and they act as pollinators when foraging for nectar. You may not know that many flies are effective pollinators as they visit flowers to feed on pollen and nectar, especially syrphid flies, also called flower flies. Beetles also play a role in pollinating plants they have evolved with, such as tulip trees (Liriodendron tulipifera), and also plants that produce clusters of small flowers, such as goldenrod (Solidago spp.) and sunflowers (Helianthus spp.).

Myth #4:

Organic pesticides will not hurt pollinating insects.

Though they may not be as hard on humans and pets, natural or organic pesticides are formulated to kill insects that come in contact with them. Avoiding pesticides is the best way to protect pollinators. If pesticides are necessary, make sure to read the label to find out what insects will be affected and for how long after application.

Myth #5:

You need to buy bee and butterfly houses to support them.

Most of us will never become beekeepers, so you may be relieved that most bees do not live in hives like honey bees do. Almost all native bees are solitary, meaning they do not live in colonies but nest singly—in the ground, in debris, and in cavities. We can aid pollinating insects by leaving leaf litter and stems in place over the winter so that they have shelter over winter. Wooden bee houses that consist of an assemblage of holes may be beneficial for solitary bees. Research on the best use of these is in progress. Butterfly boxes are not thought to be useful. Their design is based on the premise that butterflies overwinter as adults, which very few do.

Myth #6:

You need to buy feeders for pollinators.

The best food for pollinating insects and hummingbirds, which are also pollinators, is native plants that bloom from early spring through late fall. A variety of bloom shapes and configurations is important, as is planting in drifts so pollinators can identify their preferred targets. Native plants have coevolved with our native pollinating insects, so they provide the best support. As generalists, honey bees will also benefit from the pollen and nectar of native plants. You should, however, provide a shallow water source for bees, and butterflies will appreciate a puddling place—an area of wet sand or mud from which they take in nutrients.

The pollinator is the animal, not the plant.

Though not exactly in the myth category, calling a plant a "pollinator" is incorrect. It's a matter of semantics, but the pollinator is the creature or agent that moves pollen, not the plant that provides it.

We have a wealth of resources to learn more about pollinators at our fingertips! Visit The Center for Pollinator Research, Penn State College of Agricultural Science. The Master Gardener Pollinator Habitat Certification portion of this website includes especially useful materials for residential gardeners.