Native New England Pollinators

Provided by University of New England Research

Worked on by Rick Hamilton
What is a pollinator?

The U.S. National Park Service defines pollinators as “Anything that helps carry pollen from the male part of the flower to the female part of the same or another flower”. It is important to note that this transport does not always need to be intentional like we see in some of our most common pollinators, there are many pollinators that accidently move pollen between flowers while doing other activities such as feeding, nesting, etc. (U.S. National Park Service)

What do pollinators do, why are they important?

Pollinators are not only the backbones of the natural ecosystems around us, but they also are essential to maintaining human agriculture all across the world! As of 1996 it was estimated that 90% of all flowering plants and over ⅓ of food crop reproduction was completely dependent on pollination from varying animals (Ley et al. 2013). The U.S. National Park Service found that domestic honey bees alone pollinate roughly $19 billion worth of crops in the U.S. every year, with other insect pollinators contributing an additional $10 billion each year as well (U.S. National Park Service). Even in New England we’re dependent on these pollinators, with plants such as apples, plums, cherries, and raspberries all relying on these animals to survive.

Not only are many plants dependent on pollinators, but it has also been noted that many plants see great benefits when local pollinator populations are healthy. One way that this has been observed is due to many fruits producing higher quality and overall larger fruit when surrounded by thriving pollinators (Ley et al. 2013).

Who are our native pollinators in New England?

Generally when people think of pollinators they immediately think of honey bees, which is true; however it is important to note that there are many different types of pollinators, many of which you can find in your own backyard! A vast majority of pollinators are insects of varying types, some of the most common being bees, butterflies/moths, beetles, flies, and wasps. Though not all pollinators are bugs, with many birds and bats acting as larger pollinators as well.

Bees are by far the most well known and recognized of all pollinators, and they pollinate a wide range of crops and native plants. The range that these bees work in can be easily increased if they are given an appropriate nesting habitat. Despite their fame as pollinators many domestic honey bees are actually invasive to North America, with the European Honey Bee becoming one of the most common bees in the U.S. in the last 400 years. In New England alone there are around 4,000 different species of native bees, with some of the most common being Bumble bees, Carpenter bees, and Sweat bees (Ley et al. 2013).

Butterflies are the most popular of all pollinators, as to many they are the most aesthetically pleasing of all our insect pollinators. There are many different species of butterfly in New England, some of the most common being the Monarch, Tiger Swallowtail, Tawny Crescent, and many more. Butterflies are one of the most fragile of our pollinators, and as such they benefit from flowers positioned in direct sunlight and out of windy areas (Ley et al. 2013).

Moths are similar to butterflies in appearance, however they sport fluffier bodies and more complex antennae. They are very unique when compared to many other pollinators as they are nocturnal, meaning they feed and are active at night, and they focus on many sweet smelling plants (Ley et al. 2013).

Beetles are one of the most abundant pollinators as there are well over 30,000 different species of beetles in the United States alone. It has also been discovered that beetles are potentially the oldest known pollinator, with researchers finding evidence of their symbiotic relationship with plants dating back over 100 million years ago (Holt. 2021)! Despite their abundance and history, many beetles are seen as unfavorable when compared to other pollinators as they have a reputation of damaging plants as well as not being the most efficient at pollinating (Ley et al. 2013).

Flies are another generally unfavorable pollinator, likely due to their reputation as pests. Despite this, flies are an extremely economically important pollinator due to their pollination specifically of many annual and bulbous ornamental flowers. Also unlike many other pollinators, flies tend to favor plants that are not in sunny areas (Ley et al. 2013).

Wasps are by far the most antagonized of all the pollinators, nonetheless they are essential pollinators for many plants. While wasps are known for their painful stings, not all species are able to sting and many are completely harmless. Wasps fill an important role as they not only pollinate plants, but they also hunt many common pest insects that can cause harm to gardens (U.S. Forest Service). A great example of this is the Great Golden Digger Wasp, as it pollinates flowers and hunts many grasshoppers that can wreak havoc on local gardens, all while keeping a relatively friendly demeanor towards humans (Holt. 2021).

Birds are less common as pollinators when compared to insects, however hummingbirds are excellent examples of how effective birds can be at pollinating despite their larger size. These hummingbirds primarily focus on tubular flowers due to their long beak and tongue. One major benefit of having hummingbirds as pollinators is that they are able to see the color red that many other pollinators are actually unable to see (Ley et al. 2013). In Maine we have 4 different species of hummingbird, but by far the Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) is the most abundant.

Bats function similarly to moths, as they are nocturnal pollinators that focus on high-fragrance flowers that bloom at night. While bats are more common as pollinators in the southern U.S., they still fill an important role here in Maine as they consume large amounts of pest insects (Holt. 2021). The bat that you’re likely to encounter most in Maine would be the Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus). Bats are often thought of as dangerous to humans, but this is the result of two major misconceptions regarding bats! First off, bats are thought to be “gross”, but this is a result of bats being capable of carrying many diseases that affect humans as humans and bats are not that genetically different! The other misconception is that bats try to attack people since they have been observed swooping towards people, but this is actually because the hot breath that we exhale attracts a lot of mosquitos which bats love to eat!

What are threats to our pollinators?

Pollinators are potentially some of the most fragile members of our local ecosystems, falling victim to many different environmental changes. There are four major threats to all our pollinators here in Maine, those being Pollution & Pesticides, Habitat Loss, Invasive Species, and Climate Change (Portland Pollinator Partnership, 2014).

To many people’s surprise pollution does not only refer to trash or waste that is left in the environment, rather there are many different types of pollution all with varying negative impacts on local ecosystems. Air, light, noise, and chemical pollution are all extremely harmful to pollinators, disrupting their life cycles or even outright killing them. One of the most direct pollutants affecting pollinators are the different types of pesticides used to get rid of “pests” such as weeds, fungus, wasps, etc. These chemicals do not exclusively harm these “pest” organisms, rather they have an incredibly harmful effect on almost all members of an ecosystem.

Habitat loss is one of the most rapidly developing threats to pollinators as more and more suitable habitat is lost everyday. The major cause of habitat loss can be attributed to human development, primarily both urban and suburban development as human populations continue to increase. This loss is pushed further by the trampling of pollinator habitat by people, pets, and vehicles alike.

Invasive species pose a threat to pollinators for a variety of reasons. These non-native species can often outcompete local pollinators for resources, spread new diseases, and even draw pollinators away from ideal food sources. Invasive species thrive in human dominated habitats, making these already tricky areas even more difficult for local pollinators to survive in (Portland Pollinator Partnership, 2014).

Finally, climate change has probably the largest effect on pollinator populations as it affects so many different attributes of the environment. One way in which climate change can harm our pollinators is by shifting the timing of plant blooming to occur much earlier in the season. Many insects are not able to adapt to this earlier bloom season, reducing the overall food availability for many pollinators. Our pollinators are also especially at risk of drought, warmer temperatures and dryer periods can cause plants to reduce the amount of nectar they produce. On the other hand, periods of heavy rain are also dangerous to pollinators as many pollinators can’t fly when it’s raining, and habitats can quickly flood as intense rainstorms become more abundant (Pollinators | USDA Climate Hubs).

What can we do to help?

Helping support our local pollinators is one of the best things you can do to help increase the strength of your local ecosystems, as well as help your own gardens thrive. The first recommended step is to contact local organizations to see if there are any conservation efforts you can participate in or if they have any extra informative resources to help give you more information. The National Wildlife Federation provides many resources to those looking to take action to save our pollinators.

Another fun and engaging way to support pollinators is to create suitable habitats to help encourage them to settle and reproduce in local spaces. You can create habitats for these pollinators by ensuring that there is appropriate food, water, and shelter that meets all of their needs. Specific needs will vary from pollinator to pollinator so be sure to do research if there is a certain pollinator you wish to support, but there are many habitat traits that are beneficial to all pollinators.

Food: By planting flowers and crops in clusters you can help increase pollination efficiency as less pollen is lost when pollinators have to cross smaller gaps between plants. Also, ensuring that your pollinator habitat contains a rich diversity of local plants will help encourage a wider range of pollinators to your area. In addition to native plants, many non-native herbs such as mint, chives, oregano, garlic, parsley, and lavender can be beneficial for pollinators. Being sure to leave some weeds as they act as great food sources for many pollinators, milkweed is a great example of a generally unfavorable plant that provides a great food source for Monarch Butterflies specifically.

Water: Making sure that your pollinator habitat has either natural or man-made water sources is essential as all pollinators will need some form of drinking water. These water sources can range from pools, ponds, moving water, or even simply small containers full of water, but all sources of water need some way for pollinators to get in and out of the water. There is a small business called Bee Cups that makes a special kind of ceramic water dish that not only prevents mosquitoes from laying eggs in the water but also uses strategic colors to help attract bees to the water!

Shelter: The most direct way you can create shelter for pollinators is by building various types of pollinator “houses”. Bee boxes, insect hotels, and bat boxes are all examples of fun and easy construction projects that can help support your local pollinators. The London Natural History Museum has a great resource on how to make your own bee hotel! They can also be purchased online from many different sellers. Another method is to incorporate plants of differing heights to create a canopy with multiple different layers, providing ample habitat for insects and other pollinators. Being sure to leave some dead leaves and plants will give your pollinators some shelter on the ground, further helping them feel protected. Finally, leaving some ground space uncovered is important as it allows ground-nesting pollinators to have ample space to inhabit (Ley et al. 2013).

Sources:

Give bees a chance. (2014, June 9). Portland Pollinator Partnership. https://portlandpollinators.org/give-bees-a-chance/#:~:text=Pollution%20and%20Pesticides%20%E2%80%94%20Air%20pollution,abilities%20to%20navigate%20and%20forage
Holt, A. (2021, October 6). Native pollinators: buzzworthy business. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. https://www.mainegardens.org/blog/native-pollinators-buzzworthy-business/
Ley, E., Stritch, L., & Soltz, G. (2013). A Regional Guide for Farmers, Land Managers, and Gardeners In the Adirondack, New England Mixed Forest, Coniferous Forest, Alpine Meadow Province. https://www.maine.gov/dacf/php/pesticides/yardscaping/documents/PollinatorPlantsNortheast.pdf
Pollinators | USDA climate hubs. (n.d.). https://www.climatehubs.usda.gov/topics/pollinators
Wasp pollination. (n.d.). U.S. Forest Service. https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/pollinators/animals/wasps.shtml
What is a pollinator? – Pollinators (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). https://www.nps.gov/subjects/pollinators/what-is-a-pollinator.htm