Words & Photo Tina Kelly
Take a look for the little guys – the little ones with many legs and wings. They’re not creepy crawlies; let’s relegate that term to the history books. Language matters, words matter and pollinators aren’t creepy, they’re beneficial and essential.
Not calling them creepy isn’t enough though – get to know them with a wide embrace. Not literally of course: many would stop reading right here. Embrace them with a deeper understanding of their importance, their needs and how to give their survival a leg – or legs – up.
You can thank wind pollination for your morning toast or overnight oats, but much of what we eat and enjoy is available to us because of animal pollinators. They transfer pollen from one plant to another, fertilizing the plant so it can produce fruit or seeds. Who are these superheroes? Birds, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, wasps, bees and, in some regions, bats are pollinators. Insects do the vast majority of the pollinating work and the most common pollinators are bees. There are more than 500 species of bee in British Columbia. An estimated 75% of food crops and flowers need animal pollinators. That’s significant.
Globally, pollinators are in decline. Urbanization and habitat loss is the leading factor, followed by the use of pesticides. Governments, organizations and individuals are taking action to promote the preservation, restoration and growth of suitable pollinator habitat. Cities across the country are taking note. Calgary has a “Bee a Polli-neighbour” program. A glance at Vancouver and Toronto city websites shows they too have programs and resources dedicated to pollinators. Victoria (YYJ) Airport has a community pollinator garden and the District of Saanich has pledged commitment to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021 to 2030), including pollinator habitat.
To thrive, pollinating insects need food (flowers!), shelter, water, nesting and over-wintering space and life free of pesticides. It’s not just on the backs of the government or urban planners. Individuals, no matter the size of your yard or balcony, can make a positive contribution to pollinators by actioning one or more of the following:
- Integrate native species into your landscape; local pollinators co-evolved with these plants.
- Garden with plants that have prolonged or different bloom times, providing food for longer.
- Choose plants that have flowers of different size, shape and colour.
- Dedicate a small part of your yard to be messy, leaving leaves, dead tree stumps or other debris.
- Plan a few patches of bare dirt; these can be nesting ground for solitary bees.
- Avoid planting invasive species (sadly, they are still sold at garden centres).
- Avoid the use of chemicals and pesticides.
- Volunteer with a group organizing restoration events.
- Support organizations doing good work to boost pollinator habitat and pollinator populations.
- Share the plight of pollinators with those who may have more yard space to allocate to healthy habitat.
Embrace the bugs, the birds and the bees … for the ecosystem and for the love of apples, blueberries and “insert your favourite fruit or vegetable.”
