Why We Should Curb Our Use of Bottled Water

THE IMPORTANCE OF POLLINATORS

For the last 6 months I have been working on a children’s picture book entitled “The Magic of Pollinators.”

After much research from sources all around the world, I became extremely concerned about the alarming decline of our pollinators right here in Simcoe and all around the world.

 Our future existence here on Earth depends on pollinators.

Mammals, birds, insects, and wind that transfer the pollen grain from flower to flower are called pollinating agents.

Most pollinators are tiny.

But their importance is mighty!

 As a matter of fact, over 450,000 species of plants depend entirely on pollinators.

A great variety of pollinators actually help pollinate over 100 food crops, including fruits, veggies, and nuts.

As a  matter of fact pollinators are responsible for every third mouthful of food that we eat!

 And if you eat a lot of meat, you still need pollinators as alfalfa, which is recognized as one of the most nutritious forages for cattle, is pollinated mainly by leaf cutting bees.

In addition to the food we eat, pollinators also support healthy ecosystems that improve air quality, stabilize soils, and support other wildlife.

There are approximately 1, 000 plants grown for-food like strawberries, grown for drinks like coffee, grown for spices like cilantro, and grown for fibres like cotton that need pollinators.

 

  It is of utmost importance, that we therefore protect, maintain, and enhance as much  biological diversity as possible for very own survival here on Earth.

Did you know the best food source for pollinators are native flowers. 

We therefore need to protect as much biological diversity as possible for own survival

One way we can help protect our precious pollinators is to ensure that our pollinators have many opportunities to gather nectar from biologically diverse green spaces.

Native plants are extremely adaptive and have evolved to maximize the conditions found in specific microclimates in our community.  Most are very water efficient and are able to thrive in poor soil conditions, as well as, being pest and disease resistant.
  Unfortunately, many domesticated plants bred for beauty have lost much of their capacity to produce nectar and pollen.  Some wonderful looking creations are so frilly that pollinators simply cannot reach the pollen.

 Some pollinators like the Karner Blue butterfly is no longer found in Canada!  This butterfly depended on specific native vegetation (wild lupine) for its larva stage. It was unable to adapt to non-native species.

 So where can we find native and naturalized plants growing a freely and abundantly?

When one starts to search for large swaths of green spaces that are naturalized and could be naturalized, they can be discovered in a multitude of green spaces in and around towns and in the country.

Not only do honey bees need naturalized areas blossoming  with a great  riot  of flora but they also need a variety of trees to collect resin which are used in the hive as defiance against pests, pathogens, for nest construction and sealing.

If the townships eliminated their regular, widespread mowing, not only, will there be more opportunities for pollinators to feed on readily available food sources, but there will be a significant reduction of GHG when the use of mowers is reduced.

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TIt is of utmost importance, that we therefore protect, maintain, and enhance as much  biological diversity as possible for very own survival here on Earth.

Did you know the best food source for pollinators are native flowers. 

We therefore need to protect as much biological diversity as possible for own survival

One way we can help protect our precious pollinators is to ensure that our pollinators have many opportunities to gather nectar from biologically diverse green spaces.

Native plants are extremely adaptive and have evolved to maximize the conditions found in specific microclimates in our community.  Most are very water efficient and are able to thrive in poor soil conditions, as well as, being pest and disease resistant.
  Unfortunately, many domesticated plants bred for beauty have lost much of their capacity to produce nectar and pollen.  Some wonderful looking creations are so frilly that pollinators simply cannot reach the pollen.

 Some pollinators like the Karner Blue butterfly is no longer found in Canada!   This butterfly depended on specific native vegetation (wild lupine) for its larva stage. It was unable to adapt to non-native species.

 So where can we find native and naturalized plants growing a freely and abundantly?

When one starts to search for large swaths of green spaces that are naturalized and could be naturalized, they can be discovered in a multitude of green spaces in and around towns and in the country.

Not only do honey bees need naturalized areas blossoming  with a great  riot  of flora but they also need a variety of trees to collect resin which are used in the hive as defiance against pests, pathogens, for nest construction and sealing. 

Here in Ontario we have over 270, 000 km of roadsides brimming with nectar in native and wildflowers.

If  townships reduced their their regular, widespread mowing after blooming time, not only, will there be more opportunities for pollinators to feed on readily available food sources, but there will be a significant reduction of GHG when the use of mowers is reduced.

Unfortunately, many garden flowers have become so hybridized they contain no nectar for pollinators! 

Most native plants  are very water efficient and are able to thrive in poor soil conditions, as well as, being pest and disease resistant.

 Here in Ontario we have over 270, 000 km of roadsides brimming with nectar in native and wildflowers. 

Townships should not  mow these much needed sources of nectar after they have bloomed.

When you think of pollinators, the first insect that comes to your mind is most likely some kind of bee.

 

That would not be surprising as the top pollinators in the world are bees.

Here in Canada, we have over 850 native bee species, unfortunately many of those are at the risk of extinction.

Most of our pollinators are insects.

BUMBLEBEES 

Bumblebees are master pollinators!

Blue berries blossoms are bell shaped with deep throats.

The tongues of bumblebees are nice and long  therefore, they can easily reach deep into a flower.

Honey bees stay put in their hives if it’s cloudy and rainy.

Bumblebees make honey bees look wimpy!

They will venture out in search of sweet nectar even on rainy days.

Bumblebees will actually eat the poop of other bumblebees!

It’s not because they are looking for a different taste sensation, but the poop actually protects them from getting harmful parasites.

On Earth Day, 2019 the UN provided us with an alarming report - our bumblebee population had declined an astounding 89 per cent! 

 HONEY BEES-NUMBER ONE POLLINATOR

Most of the flowers in the world (90%) are pollinated by insects such as bees, beetles, moths and flies.

Honey bees fly from flower to flower collecting nectar which they turn into honey for their food.

Pollen grains attach to the honey bees’ hind legs.

We refer to these collections of pollen as “pollen baskets.”

MONARCH BUTTERFLIES

Monarch butterflies are attracted to purple.

Native New England asters are a wonderful food source for monarchs as they search out nectar to provide lots of energy energy as they ready for their migration to Mexico in the autumn.

The Monarch butterflies rely entirely on  Milkweed plants for their life cycles.

Monarch caterpillars cannot eat any other plants but the leavers from milkweed plants.

 Luckily, all this munching causes no damage to the milkweed plants.

  So it’s extremely important that milkweed patches are allowed to survive wherever they self-seed in ditches, along roadsides, and along the lakeshore.

Monarch caterpillars munching on milkweed leaves. 

Monarchs on native New England Aster 

SQUASH BEES- LOVE PUMPKIN FLOWERS 

Did you know that if a tiny unimportant-looking bee called a squash bee disappeared, so will all the pumpkins in the whole world.

Squash bees are the only insects that will visit the flowers of pumpkins! 

MOSQUITOES PESKY BUT...

It’s only the female mosquito that will suck your blood and she only sucks your blood when she is ready to lay eggs.

Mosquitoes’ favourite food is actually not your blood, but sweet nectar.

Mosquitoes pollinate orchid flowers that are able to grow right out of the branches of trees in tropical countries.

If you like vanilla ice cream you actually have to be grateful for mosquitoes.

 Why? Vanilla comes from orchid flowers.

WASPS - MORE THAN ANNOYING STINGERS

When most people they think of wasps they think of annoying insects that can leave you with  a stinging bite.

 You may be surprised to know that wasps  are great pollinators, especially in the autumn months.

Here’s their story. 

During the summer, wasps need protein so they search for aphids, flies, and caterpillars on all kinds of veggies.

It turns out they do not eat most of the caterpillars they hunt.

The job of adult wasps is to make sure that their hungry baby siblings, who cannot fly, are fed.

The adult wasps feed the caterpillars to the baby siblings and in return the baby siblings secrete a sugary drink for the adults to drink.

When fall arrives, the baby siblings have become adults and no longer need to be fed.

As a result, the adult wasps are no longer getting sugary drinks, so they look elsewhere for something sweet.

Not only do they look for something sweet at your outdoor picnic, and sting you in the process, but they will also look for sweet nectar from flowers.

It turns out in the fall, wasps can be just as amazing as bees at pollinating flowers!   

 

BEETLES -DON’T GET GROSSED OUT! 

When you see beetles sitting on flowers they are not looking for nectar like honey bees. 

Beetles are in search of pollen.

Many beetles roll around in their own poop so they end up covered with a fecal shield. 

The smelly fecal shields protect the beetle larvae from predators.

Some flowers pollinated by beetles are goldenrod, magnolias, and pond lilies.  

HUMMINGBIRDS - MASTER POLLINATORS

Hummingbirds are not only dazzling, but they are very special kind of pollinators.

 Due to their long beaks they are able to pollinate blossoms  that have very deep throats.

Tiny pollen grains stick to their long sword-like beaks or their tiny foreheads.

 Since humming birds cannot walk they cause no damage to flowers as they hover next to a flower.

The ruby-throated hummingbird will fly all by its lonesome, over 4,000 kilometres from Canada to Central America, without stopping for a rest or to eat!

What makes this journey ever more incredible is the fact that hummingbirds do not fly over land, but instead fly over

4, 000 km for about 20 hours non-stop over the Gulf of Mexico! 

While the daytime pollinators sleep, nocturnal pollinators will pollinate flowers all night long.

Would you believe that there are over 300 different food producing plants that need fruit bats to pollinate them?                   

Mangoes, dates , peaches, cashew nuts, cloves, and agave all depend on fruit bats for their survival.

 At nighttime, night moths will pollinate moonflowers, evening primrose, nicotiana, and morning glories.

 

While the daytime pollinators sleep, nocturnal pollinators will pollinate flowers all night long.

Would you believe that there are over 300 different food producing plants that need fruit bats to pollinate them?                   

Mangoes, dates , peaches, cashew nuts, cloves, and agave all depend on fruit bats for their survival.

 At nighttime, night moths will pollinate moonflowers, evening primrose, nicotiana, and morning glories.

HUMANS CAN BE POLLINATING AGENTS 

If you shake a tomato plant, you can help with self-pollination.

Or you can get a paint brush to collect pollen and move it to another flower.

 

HOW CAN I HELP POLLINATORS IN MY NEIGHBOURHOOD?

 Research which native plants andperennials attract pollinators.

Do not pull out milkweeds growing in your garden

Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed leaves.

The Monarch caterpillars are only able to eat milkweed leaves – no milkweed plants mean no more Monarchs!

Place a butterfly townhouse or cedar bee house in your backyard.

DO NOT USE TOXIC  PESTICIDES ON YOUR FLOWERS! 

PESTICIDES HAVE SPECIFICALLY BEEN DESIGNED TO KILL AND THEY WILL NOT ONLY KILL UNWANTED PESTS BUT WILL ALSO KILL OUR MUCH NEEDED AND PRECIOUS POLLINATORS.

Locally, you can buy native plants such as cup plants , silverweed, and butterfly weed and much more from Return of the Native  in Elmvale , 1186 Flos Rd.  Kate Harries- return.native@gmail.com 705- 322-2545.

                

                    

             

                                                                            

As well as protecting the food sources of our dwindling pollinators it’s also critical that cities and townships plant as many evergreen trees in groups of 3 or more ( single evergreen trees without shade often dry out and die in sunny winter months)

                       

On hot and humid days the worker honeybees will go in search of resin from evergreen trees. The honeybee tears the resins from trees and brings it back to the hive. There the resin is mixed with the wax from the beehive.

This mixture is waterproof and has an antibiotic action.

The bees use the mixture to seal the hive. 

This helps the hive to become airtight, watertight, and protects it from predators. 

 

Some Bee City initiatives undertaken by Barrie are-

Ø Reducing the number of  mowing  cycles per summer

Ø Increasing the number of naturalized spaces

Ø Replacing planting areas with native species

Ø Supporting   the planting of native trees as bees need resin from trees

Ø Supporting  volunteer- led removal of  Phragmites australis (worst invasive species in Canada)

·          Restoring and enhancing  the shoreline restoration

Presentation created by Gwen Petreman- Children’s Author  Illustrator  Environmentalist Presenter 

Order The Magic of  Pollinators age 6 -10 from gwenpetreman@gmail.com