Sweet Visitations
Story and Photos by Janette Slack
As September begins and the first weeks of fall loom nearer, I find myself wandering through the garden more frequently. Anise Hyssop, Catmint, Speedwell, and Lavender are still in bloom, and I feel compelled to drink in their beauty for as long as I can. There’s also something gratifying in knowing that the carefully sowed and nurtured plants have benefited the many insects and other pollinators who visit them.
These tiny creatures, however, offer far more than just the enjoyment of watching their lively, industrious activity. Butterflies, bees, birds, and bats, as well as other pollinators, are responsible for providing one-third of the food that we put on our table. And sadly, they are disappearing at an alarming rate.
In order for fruits and vegetables to grow, they must first be pollinated, and the same is true for crops consumed by livestock. While many crops are wind-pollinated, 80% of the world’s crops depend on pollination from wild bees, birds, and other wildlife.
Not surprisingly, pollinators are vanishing due to pesticide poisoning, diseases, and habitat loss. Pesticides are virtually indiscriminate, killing both beneficial as well as harmful insects. And, despite Rachel Carson’s eye-opening revelations on the impact of pesticides (Silent Spring, 1962), many of the world’s countries are still using enormous amounts of insecticides. The U.S. now dispenses twice the amount of pesticides than in previous years.
In 2006, 24 states were severely affected by Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), which marked the numerous deaths of honeybees. Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV), carried to the U.S. (possibly from Australia), was implicated.
Of course, habitat loss is one of the greatest threats to pollinators, who require undisturbed habitat for nesting and feeding. Today, a plethora of herbicides are sprayed not only in residential communities, but also on farms and in wild areas, fields, and roadside ditches, effectively eliminating native vegetation and robbing birds, bees, and insects of their vital food supply.
Aside from urging farmers, government agencies, and land managers to utilize practices which would protect pollinators, what can we do as individuals to address this critical issue? Buying organic produce, planting gardens to attract pollinators, and avoiding the use of pesticides and herbicides is a good start.
For a list of the most toxic pesticides for bees, and to learn more about The Forgotten Pollinators campaign, please visit: http://www.pmac.net/birdbee.htm. If you have a green thumb and would like to offer bees, butterflies and other pollinators a welcoming habitat, here are a few things to consider:
-Plants that provide a continuous array of blooms will provide beneficial habitat throughout the growing season.
-Many hybridized plants offer inadequate nourishment, because they contain very little pollen and nectar. Pollinators need pollen for protein and fat, and nectar for sugar and energy.
-Use local native plants, which are more attractive and valuable to native pollinators.
-Use a variety of colors and shapes. There are many species of bees and butterflies; some prefer tubular flowers, while others gravitate towards flatter blooms. Bees have excellent color vision, and find blue, purple, white, and yellow most attractive.
-Plant flowers closely grouped together, as this is more attractive to bees than a widely spaced arrangement. They also prefer sunny, well-sheltered areas.
-Provide a source of water, such as a birdbath, or dripping fountain.
-A greater variety of flower species is most attractive.
For a list of the best bee and butterfly plants, please visit:
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Sources:
The Forgotten Pollinators, Mrill Ingram, Gary Nabhan, Stephen Buchmann
Thedailygreen.com
About.com, Bee Plants, Marie Iannotti
All-creatures.org
Wikipedia
"Sustaining Life: How Human Health Depends on Biodiversity";
Center for Health and the Global Enviornment
Harvard Medical School
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