Bees: Final Thoughts on Bees as Pollinators

categories: Bees Final Thoughts on Bees Pollinators

last review date: 2026-02-27 09:39

Biology

Bees are the prime pollinators, designed to pollinate.  Consequently, they are of prime importance to effective pollination on the landscape.

Most of the bees seen in your garden will be solitary native bees, but they are just as important, maybe more so, than the familiar honey bee.

Fortunately, everything you do in your garden to attract pollinators, aimed at providing foraging habitat and nesting sites, will be good for all pollinators.  Creating a garden habitat that is floristically and physically diverse throughout the season will encourage bees to visit and ultimately to stay.

Large swaths of manicured grass lawns are biological deserts as far as bees and other pollinators are concerned.

The use of pesticides is also a major constraint to enhancement of home garden bee populations.  Virtually all pesticides available for home garden use will have potentially deleterious impacts on bee and other pollinator populations. Maximum success in creating a bee and pollinator garden can only be achieved in the absence of pesticide applications.

Attracting and Keeping Natural Enemies
and Pollinators in Your Yard and Garden

• Native plants provide essential resources.
• Native flora also provides natural overwintering sites.
• Natural dispersion from nearby habitats ensures visitation.
• Some kinds of beneficial insects predatory mites are commercially available.
• Avoid regular use of synthetic, broad-spectrum pesticides.
• Infrequent use of certain narrow-spectrum pesticides is more compatible with some beneficials.
• Extensive lawns are also not conducive to attracting beneficial insects.

Management Options

See "Using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in the Landscape" for successful problem management techniques.

Chemical Management

IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides.

• None recommended