Imagine a world without vegetables, fruits and nuts. Most flowering plants require pollination in order to form seeds and fruit. This includes our edibles. Some beverages, cooking oils, and fibers also require pollinated plants. Not only are humans dependent on pollination, much of the world’s wildlife is also dependent on it. They eat seeds, nuts, berries, or fruits that require pollination to exist. Our pollinating species are increasingly in decline and this could greatly impact the future of our agricultural industry, as well as our planet.

When most people think of pollinators they think of bees, and most likely honey bees. Honey bees are actually not native to North America, although they have become very important to our agricultural industry. They originally came from Europe. Land clearing for housing and farms has destroyed many native bee habitats. European honey bees are sometimes transported specifically for pollinating crops, such as blueberry crops in Maine. Honey bees are in decline in recent years due to the unexplained phenomenon of Colony Collapse Disorder.

While much of our agricultural industry is dependent on honey bees, we should not forget that native bees, such as our many species of bumble bees, are important pollinators, too, as well as other insects and animals, such as butterflies, moths, wasps, beetles, flies, bats, and some birds. 59 butterflies and moths and 57 bees have been “Red Listed” by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and millions of bats have died due to White-Nose Syndrome. Many of our pollinator species are at risk and more needs to be learned and done to help them.

The declining number of pollinators is largely attributed to the loss of habitat and the large distances between existing habitats, the use of pesticides that are poisonous to pollinators, and the spread of parasites and disease among the pollinator populations. Many of these factors are within our control and if organizations and individuals take action, we can help our pollinators.

Pollinators aren’t setting out to pollinate, they are merely looking for food, which is in the form of nectar. In the process of obtaining that food, they happen to pollinate by transferring pollen from one flowering plant to another. In many cases, this is not an accident. Many flowers are shaped, colored or patterned to attract pollinators to their nectar source with the intent of forcing pollen onto the creature in order to transport it to another flower. In order for this pollination process to happen, we need to be sure we have the nectar and host plants, as well as overwintering and nesting sites, that these pollinators require. We also need to ensure that we are not using pesticides or herbicides that poison or kill our precious pollinators.

We have shown that we have the power to destroy pollinators and their habitats. Let’s show that we have the power to save them.