Pollinator FAQs
We have compiled some of the most frequently asked questions about polliantors and native plants. We hope that this list can help answer your questions, too!
Pollinators
What is a pollinator?
A pollinator is any animal that carries pollen from one flower to another, aiding in plant reproduction. This includes birds (like hummingbirds!), beetles, ants, bats (although not in Iowa), bees, butterflies, moths…
Who are the pollinators in Iowa?
Iowa has roughly 2,500 different native species of pollinators! Over 300 species of bees, 110 species of butterflies, and over 2,000 species of moths.
Check out these articles for more:
How can I help?
Creating native habitat is by far the best way you can help pollinators and native wildlife. Here are a couple of articles we wrote that can point you in the right direction:
What is the state of pollinators today?
Unfortunately, insects are not doing well. According to Hallmann et al, insect biomass has declined by 74% – 83%. This is due to a variety of things, such as habitat loss and fragmentation, pesticide use, pollution, and climate change.
Here are some articles that may help you:
- Rebugging our Community, which includes a short list of ways you can help
- Where does the Monarch Butterfly stand with its listing under the ESA
- The State of Pollinators in Iowa
Plants
What are our native milkweed?
Here’s an article where we covered the 4 most common species.
What plants are best for pollinators?
In short, native plants. Different plants support different species, so the key to supporting pollinators is to have a diverse planting with host plants!
Where can I buy native plants?
There are many different places to purchase native plants from! The best thing to do is find a retailer that is in your ecoregion. Essentially, this means that the closer the plants are grown to you, the better suited they will be for your conditions!
Here are some resources to find Native plant retailers near you:
Still have questions? Contact us and ask!
Staff contacts can be found here.