Wildlife and Pollinators
More About Pollinators
These hard-working animals help pollinate over 75 percent of our flowering plants, and nearly 75 percent of our crops. Often we may not notice the hummingbirds, bats, bees, beetles, butterflies, and flies that carry pollen from one plant to another as they collect nectar. Yet without them, wildlife would have fewer nutritious berries and seeds, and we would miss many fruits, vegetables, and nuts, like blueberries, squash, and almonds... not to mention chocolate and coffee … all of which depend on pollinators
Providing habitat for songbirds and pollinators is one of the great pleasures of gardening with native plants. To maximize habitat for pollinators, plant a diversity of plants, and try to provide the longest possible season of bloom.
Many plants will provide nectar for adult insects, but consider the larval stage when choosing plants, too. Most native insects have specialized relationships with native plants, and require specific plants to grow from egg to an adult. As an example, many butterflies will sip nectar from non-natives, but the eggs need to be laid on specific plants or the caterpillars won’ t recognize the plant as food.
Birds use native plants for food and shelter, but insects are an overlooked and crucial part of many birds’ diets. Far more insects will develop on native plants than exotics, providing food for birds during the critical nesting season. Consider planting a‘ thicket’ of berry-producing shrubs. If planted in the direction of the prevailing wind, this thicket can also provide a space of calm air for butterflies.
Meet the Pollinators
Bees- Bees are pollinators in the natural and agricultural systems of Colorado. Colonies of honeybees, which are not native to Colorado, have been the workhorses of agricultural pollination for years in the United States.
There are nearly 4,000 species of native ground and twig nesting bees in the U. S. Some form colonies, while others live and work a solitary life. Native bees currently pollinate many crops and can be encouraged to do more to support agricultural endeavors if their needs for nesting habitat are met and if suitable sources of nectar, pollen, and water are provided.
Bumblebees form small colonies, usually underground. The sweat bee nests underground. Various species are solitary while others form loose colonies.
Solitary bees include carpenter bees, which nest in wood; digger, or polyester bees, which nest underground; leafcutter bees, which prefer dead trees or branches for their nest sites; and mason bees, which utilize cavities they find in stems and dead wood. Cactus bees are also solitary ground nesters.
Butterflies- Gardeners love to attract butterflies to their gardens. These insects tend to be as eyecatching as the flowers that attract them. A large diversity of butterflies can usually be found in garden areas and woodland edges that provide bright flowers, water sources, and specific host plants. Numerous trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants support butterfly populations.
Some of the butterfly species in Colorado are Painted Lady, Blue Copper, Desert Marble, Fulvia
Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom 6 www. GrowingYourFuture. com