Be Supportive of the Bees This Summer

Summer is here and with it comes beautiful blooming flowers and delicious seasonal fruits and vegetables. What you may not realize is that bees, butterflies, beetles and more help pollinate all of these pretty and tasty treats. Actually, these insects pollinate approximately 1,000 plants we see and eat every day! Without these pollinators, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy that juicy watermelon or stunning daylilies on warm summer days.

Unfortunately, due to increased urbanization, natural habitats are decreasing, making nectar and pollen sources scarce for honey bees and other pollinators. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, there has been a 50% reduction of honey bees since 1940. This is a major problem as honey bees pollinate 1/3 of the foods we eat every day. This includes that delicious corn on the cob you look forward to every year. But, you can help! By simply planting certain flowers and building homes for bees around your yard, you will attract more pollinators and help the environment.

Do your part and check out these tips for beautiful, pollinator-friendly gardens all summer long. You can even build your own “bee condos” to keep these pollinators safe and living in your yard.

• Choose a variety of flowers and flowering plants that are native to your region as local pollinators are particularly adapted to these.
• Plant flowers in clusters so they are more easily noticed and accessible to pollinators.
• Consider including exotic plants in your garden as some can produce large amounts of nectar.
• Choose flowers that will bloom in different seasons.
• Plant flowers that bloom at night to attract other pollinators, like moths that are active in the evening.
• Avoid hybridized plants that offer less pollen.
• Build a “bee condo” that attaches to your trees to help bees find homes away from rain and predators.

With these tips in mind, you’ll enjoy the beauty pollinators bring to your garden and community this summer.

About Shane McCoy:

Shane McCoy is the Quality and Technical Training Director for Wil-Kil Pest Control, a regional pest management company providing quality pest management for residential and commercial properties throughout the Upper Midwest. As an Associate Certified Entomologist with over 20 years of experience in pest management, Shane’s blog provides expert tips and tricks, timely information and solutions for coexisting with the insect life and critters around us. To learn more about Wil-Kil Pest Control, please visit www.wil-kil.com. You can also follow the company on Facebook and Twitter (@WilKilPest).