Native Pollinators in Your Garden Bumble Bee, already packing an orange wad of pollen, is gathering more in native St. Johns Wort (Hypericum species). Be sure to see the St. Johns Wort feature in center of this guide. BUMBLE BEES Bumblebees are social and form a colony with a queen, though this colony is much smaller than a typical Honey Bee hive. Bumble Bees nest underground, typically in old rodent burrows. Because they are large bees, they can forage from a wider variety of flowers and over a wider foraging range than smaller native bees. They are very important agricultural pollinators, but most species have seen a decline in their numbers in recent years due to habitat degradation, habitat destruction and climate change. SWEAT BEES Sweat Bees get their name from the fact that some species are attracted to perspiration. These are small bees that nest in the ground, so having some open bare soil in your garden will provide them space for nesting near the flowers they forage. This is important because their small size means they do not have the ability to gather pollen over great distances. Also because of their size, composite flowers in the Aster family, like Beach Sunflower or Black-eyed Susan, are favorite food sources as the small, narrow floral tubes in the central disc flower exactly suit the small tongue of these bees. CONTINUED ON PAGE 8 This Sweat Bee is performing “buzz pollination” on a native Meadowbeauty flower (Rhexia species). The bee uses its muscles to produce strong vibrations that forcibly expel pollen out from within the flower. Bees can generate a force of 30 G. PHOTOS: LEFT: MARY KEIM OTHERS THIS PAGE: BOB PETERSON Eastern Carpenter Bee on Palafoxia, a native wildflower easily overlooked by people, but not pollinators. Why Native Plants for Pollinators Plants and their pollinators have evolved together over a very, very long time, developing characteristics and behaviors that help each other succeed. As a result, naturally occuring local pollinators depend on naturally occurring local – or native – plants. When native habitat is reduced or eliminated, pollinators are reduced or eliminated. While some pollinators will use the nectar and pollen of some non-native plants, research shows that native plants are generally preferred and should be dominant. 6 GUIDE FOR REAL FLORIDA GARDENERS FALL 2016-2017 FANN / Florida Association of Native Nurseries
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