We need pollinators…and they need us!

Pollinators play a keystone role in most ecosystems and are essential for almost a third of our food production. A healthy abundance and diversity of pollinators not only supports the surrounding ecosystem but provides benefits for us as well. Globally, up to 75% of all flowering plant species and 35% of all food crops rely on a pollinator for reproduction.

Despite their importance, pollinators are facing serious declines worldwide due to threats such as pesticides, climate change, habitat loss, invasive diseases, and pests. Bees, one of our most important pollinators, are among the many pollinators that are struggling. The United States is home to around 4,000 native bee species, and San Diego County is home to an estimated 650 species of native bees of all shapes, colors, and sizes. Sadly, at least 23% of all bees in North America are in decline. 

 

How to help pollinators

One of the best ways to support struggling pollinators is to create and restore healthy pollinator habitat. Ideally, a pollinator habitat:

• Avoids the use of pesticides
• Includes a water source
• Provides host plants and  a variety of blooming and nectar plants that act as a year-round food souce
• Provides nesting sites

 

Creating safe nesting habitats for native bees is just as important as providing food.

Around 70% of bees native to North America nest in the ground. The other 30% nest in cavities such as old beetle tunnels in wood or hollow plant stems. 

To provide nesting sites for ground-nesting bees to build their homes, leave some bare or sparsely vegetated patches of soil near flowering plants.

To provide nesting sites for cavity-nesting bees, build nesting blocks or grow plants with pithy stems. Plants being used as nesting sites should be left untouched over the winter, and should not be cut back until early Spring. The cut stems of these plants should be left in place during the following Spring to provide shelter for bee larvae (baby bees), pupae (kid bees), or overwintering adult bees. For more information on when to prune to protect pollinators how to create nesting habitat, click here. 

• If you would like to make a donation to our pollinator programs, click here.
• If you have questions about pollinators or would like to get involved with any of our programs, email us at: pollinators@rcdsandiego.org.