05/05/2017
Here at Young's Tree and Forestry, our business isn't just about eliminating pests; our hope is that our work will actually encourage healthy, native species to thrive, and even bring the surrounding ecosystem closer to its original balance. Here are some of the species we most love to see thriving, and how you can help them maintain their place in our local ecology:
1. Bees. We know you've heard the hype about bees, and we agree that bee species are key players in the ecosystem! Their pollinating activity is so critical to many plant species that wind and other means of pollination just wouldn't be sufficient to allow them to propagate without the help of bees. According to USDA.gov, a whopping $40 billion dollars of our agricultural productivity is attributable to insect pollinators. 75% of agricultural plant species and 25% of the food we consume is attributable to animal pollinators. Almost 90% of plant species worldwide are critically dependent on animal pollinators, and of the 200,000 animal pollinator species, about 99.5% are insect species-- and since insects propagate so quickly compared to vertebrates, the percentage of pollinators that are insects is even higher. In the U.S., we rely on about 4,000 species of bees for plant pollination. Honey Bees, though not native to our country, are responsible for a great deal of bee pollination here-- not to mention one of our favorite sweet treats.
2. Other insects, including butterflies, flies, beetles, and moths. These species pollinate a very broad variety of plants, and each has their particular niche. Moths, for example, are the primary pollinators of night-blooming flowers in the Southwest. The butterfly population of the U.S. is made up of 700 species, all of which generally prefer to pollinate flowers that are broad and flat and produce nectar-- daisy species, for example, attract butterflies.
3. Bats. Although not as critical to the ecology of our region, bats are essential players in the life cycles of some night-blooming plants, especially in the Southwest. Bats have a critical role in the reproduction of several fruit tree species, like peach trees.
4. Hummingbirds. Although perhaps not as prolific as bees and other insects, hummingbirds have developed symbiotic relationships with many vine and shrub species that produce tubular flowers. Hummingbirds are uniquely equipped to drink nectar from these flowers with their long, delicate beaks, and in the process, they spread pollen.
All of these pollinators are threatened because they have one thing in common: loss of habitat. This is due largely to the displacement of native species by invasive ones, although certain human activities, such as cave vandalism, impact these habitats directly. Insect pollinator species are also vulnerable to pesticides when they are applied excessively and haphazardly. In order to restore pollinator habitat, we recommend that you take steps to encourage the growth of flowering native plant species. Steps you can take to do this include cultural practices like w**ding and expanding your flower garden, growing native flowers in clumps, and reducing the size of your lawn in favor of your garden. Judicious pesticide application will also help; using only herbicides will eliminate w**ds without endangering bees. Seeking professional assistance will also help limit chemical coverage to your intended targets; licensed applicators have the proper toolkit and knowledge base to apply herbicides only when and where necessary.
Source:https://plants.usda.gov/pollinators/Native_Pollinators.pdf
