Protect pollinator habitat

A summary of, Attracting Native Pollinators, a guide published by the Xerces Society.

Part 4 of 4

Pollinators suffer from habitat fragmentation. Smaller sections of habitat are more likely to be overrun with invasive species from neighboring areas. Protect large diverse habitat and connected habitats.

Pollinators need nesting and egg laying sites close to their foraging areas. About 70% of north Americas bees are ground nesting and 30% are tunnel nesting. Ground nesting bees need protected patches of bare, unmulched ground to build their underground nest. Tunnel nesting bees seek out hollow plant stems or rotting trees to make their nests. Finding nests in the landscape may be difficult as they are often hidden and bees only visit regularly when they are building. Overwintering bee nests should not be disturbed.

Ground nesting bees often prefer to nest in poor quality soil. Sometimes that patch of ground that is so hard to grow flowers in is the perfect habitat for a bee nest. Protect bare patches of ground for pollinators. Flower bed edges are also patches of bare ground where a bee can nest.

To link a new pollinator garden to a wide range of other habitat consider urban greenspaces as sites to provide more habitat within the foraging rang of the bee. A local park or school may have an unused patch of ground where lawn can be left unmaintained to provide floral resources for bees. When vising local greenspaces first identify and protect pollinator habitat, then help develop new habitat to create a habitat corridor for pollinators. Talk to neighbors and friends about the importance of pollinators and how to protect them.