Insect pollinators, including bumble bees, wild solitary bees, hoverflies and butterflies are essential to sustaining our food supply and farming economy. They’re responsible for providing about 35% of our food crops globally. These indispensable species are responsible for the production of nearly 70 percent of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Their health and habitats are a key component to agriculture around the world. New studies underscore the need to produce more effective habitats as pollinator havens. …saying that their dietary needs are… and what their seasonal bloom preferences are…
A comprehensive study analyzed a dataset of over 178,000 individual insect pollinators from 19 countries to ascertain the minimum natural habitat necessary for their thriving. These results highlight the importance of various floral resources and natural land cover in agricultural landscapes. This is especially critical in places such as Washington State, where state and local governments are passing pollinator-friendly laws.
The Importance of Diverse Floral Resources
Insect pollinators need to have access to diverse flowers in order to meet their dietary needs. Each species of pollinator has their own preferences for certain flower shapes. These nectar-producing flowers provide the proteins, vitamins, and minerals that are vitally important for mating success and species propagation. For instance, bumble bees are particularly significant agricultural pollinators in Washington State, where they contribute to the productivity of numerous crops.
The timing of when flowers bloom is just as essential. Pollinators require access to flowers that bloom during all seasons of the year to provide a consistent source of food. This periodic fluctuation fosters robust, diverse effigies of pollinators that ultimately ensure the productivity of many agricultural and natural systems.
The new analysis highlights this imperative, showing that insect pollinators perform best in areas with high floral diversity. By creating habitats that support an array of flowering plants across different seasons, agricultural stakeholders can enhance the effectiveness of pollinators in crop production.
Legislative Efforts Supporting Pollinators
In Washington, the state legislature has recognized the declining status of insect pollinators and is taking proactive measures to support their populations. Recent laws require that at least 25% of the landscaping area in public works projects be designated as pollinator habitat. This new pollinator habitat restoration effort hopes to establish new habitats that benefit both native and commercial pollinators, in the pockets of developed, urban areas.
Moreover, Washington has initiated state laws aimed at decreasing pesticide hazards that pose risks to pollinator populations. These regulations are very important. Eliminating pesticide exposures therefore has the greatest positive impact on the health of our local and global pollinator populations. By reducing pesticide use and cultivating native plants, Washington is creating safer environments for these quality pollinators to thrive.
This data has been instrumental in demonstrating that species have differing needs for their habitat. For example, hoverflies need a minimum of 6% natural features in their landscapes, and butterflies about 37%. By addressing these targeted needs, we can better improve our success in conservation. With this understanding, we can modify habitats to meet the needs of the various species.
The Decline of Insect Pollinators
Unfortunately, despite these positive legislative efforts, insect pollinators continue to be threatened by major stressors. Yet habitat loss is propelling a global crisis of decline in these essential species. Urbanization, agricultural expansion, and other human development activities are primarily responsible for this widespread destruction. In our home state of Washington, this is particularly tragic, as the native pollinator populations continue to decline.
An amazing success story is the large nesting stronghold in southeastern Washington. This region hosts an incredible 5.3 million nesting female bees. This red zone represents what’s possible when we have strong, healthy bee populations, provided that we take steps to protect and restore habitats. Alkali bees (Nomia melanderi) are in extreme habitat crisis. Because these native bees do better in dryer conditions found across the western U.S.—especially the dryer parts of Washington, from much of the Cascades eastward—this may bring an additional benefit.
The results from the five-year project point to an immediate need for conservation work. Insect pollinators require as little as 6% or as much as 37% natural features in their habitats, depending on the species. This staggering statistic underscores just how vital it is to protect and restore natural landscapes in order to support insect pollinators.