There is no only insect that can pollinate plants. That idea is a common myth you hear all the time. Bees do most of the work for sure, but many other pollinating insects also move pollen in your yard every day.
I learned this on a fall afternoon in my own yard. I sat by a goldenrod patch with my notebook. I counted six bug groups on the blooms within an hour. Bees, hoverflies, soldier beetles, wasps, ants, and even a few small moths all moved from flower to flower.
Most folks just call bees the only pollinators since bees do the bulk of the work. But the truth is far more rich than that. Many other bug groups play a real role in moving pollen for your plants.
Why do bees win the top spot? Bees as pollinators stand out for one big reason. Bees collect pollen on purpose to feed their young. Other bugs move pollen by chance while they sip nectar for their own meal.
A honey bee has fuzzy hairs all over its body. Pollen grains stick to those hairs and ride from flower to flower. A bee will visit 2,000 blooms in a single day. That kind of pollen swap drives pollinator efficiency to a level no other bug can match.
Hoverflies (Family Syrphidae)
- Looks: Hoverflies wear yellow and black stripes that fool you into thinking they sting. They do not sting at all, so feel free to let them work near you.
- Why they help: Adults sip nectar from open blooms and move pollen as they hop from flower to flower in your beds.
- Top plants: Plant dill, fennel, and yarrow to draw hoverflies. The babies also eat aphids for free pest control on your other plants.
Soldier Beetles and Other Beetles
- Looks: Soldier beetles look like soft-bodied lightning bugs with red and black bodies. You can spot them on goldenrod in late summer.
- Why they help: Beetles were the first bugs to pollinate ancient flowers and still drive insect pollination for many native plants today.
- Top plants: Goldenrod, milkweed, and white asters all pull in beetles. They love flat open blooms they can crawl across with ease.
Moths and Wasps
- Looks: Hawkmoths hover like hummingbirds at dusk. Most wasps look slim with smooth bodies, unlike fuzzy bees that buzz next to them.
- Why they help: Moths work the night shift on white evening blooms while wasps move pollen as they hunt for caterpillars.
- Top plants: Try moonflower, evening primrose, and four o'clock for hawkmoths. Wasps love goldenrod and Queen Anne's lace alike.
So how do you put all this to work in your yard? Mix up your flower shapes and bloom times. Each bug group needs a different kind of bloom to feed at.
Plant flat open blooms like yarrow and goldenrod for beetles and flies. Add tube-shape blooms like bee balm and salvia for native bee pollinators with long tongues. Toss in white night blooms like moonflower for moths after dark.
Aim for blooms in all three seasons. Early spring brings out queen bumblebees from their winter rest. Summer feeds the bulk of bees and flies. Fall sends migrating monarchs and late wasps to your goldenrod patch one last time.
Skip pesticides if you want a full bug crew in your yard. Even sprays marked as safe can wipe out hoverflies and small beetles. Your reward for this hands-off plan is a yard that hums with dozens of bug types moving pollen for you all year long.
Read the full article: 25 Best Pollinator Plants for Your Garden
