Who Are the Pollinators?
Insects like bees, butterflies, moths, wasps, beetles, and flies do the majority of the pollination activities. However, other mammals such as hummingbirds, bats, and possums are also considered pollinators.
Pollinators provide an essential service to our environment as approximately 80% of all flowering plants and 35% of global crops need assistance from pollinators to complete the reproduction process. One out of every three bites of food we eat depends on pollinators. Pollinators contribute $20 billion to the U.S. agriculture industry.
Pollinator Decline
By 2050, over 40% of insect species worldwide, including pollinators, are predicted to face extinction if current trends continue.
The United Nations estimates that nearly 35% of invertebrate pollinators (bees and butterflies) and 17% of vertebrate pollinators (birds and bats) are currently under threat.
Bees
28% of North American bumble bees have undergone significant declines
50% decline of Leafcutter Bees
27% decline of Mason Bees
With a population decline of 87%., the rusty-patched bumble bee was added to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service endangered species list in 2017
Butterflies
19% of butterflies in the U.S. are approaching extinction
The monarch population has declined by more than 80% since the 1990s from central Mexico, and by more than 95% since the 1980s in coastal California
Fun Facts About Pollinators
Bees
There are 20,000 of wild bee species in the world that contribute to pollination, ranging from solitary bees like the mason bee to social species like the bumblebee
Over 4,000 bee species are native to North America and over 450 are native to Michigan.
Honeybees are not native to the U.S., they were introduced to North America by European settlers in the early 1600s, primarily for honey production and pollination of European crops
Bumblebees use a technique called "buzz pollination," where they vibrate their bodies to shake pollen loose from flowers
Bees are attracted to bright blue and violet colors
Butterflies
There are over 160,000 species of moths and 17,500 species of butterflies worldwide
Over 479 butterfly and moth species are found in Michigan
Milkweed is the only plant that female monarchs lay their eggs on, as it is the only plant that the caterpillars are able to eat.
Monarch butterflies live for about 4 weeks while migrating monarchs live for 5-9 months
Monarch butterflies migrate up to 3,000 miles each year between North America and their wintering grounds in Mexico, a journey that spans generations.
Butterflies have taste sensors on their feet to help them detect whether a plant is suitable for laying eggs.
Butterflies are drawn to bright colors like yellow, orange, pink and red and prefer flat petals to stand on
Hummingbirds
Hummingbirds are attracted to long tubular red, pink, fuchsia, or purple flowers
Hummingbirds are the only birds that can hover and fly backward, which allows them to feed on nectar efficiently while pollinating plants
Flies and Beetles
While bees get most of the attention, flies, including hoverflies, are also vital pollinators, especially in cooler climates where bees are less active
Beetles are among the oldest pollinators on Earth, dating back to the time of the dinosaurs, over 100 million years ago