Introducing North Carolina’s Pollinators

While it may feel cold and dreary outside now, spring is just around the corner. The arrival of spring and spring flowers also ushers in the arrival of pollinators who are busy ensuring the reproduction of flowering plants. Have you ever wondered who our pollinators are? Let’s meet some of our North Carolina pollinators.

Bees

While Honeybees may be the most well known of the pollinators there are over 500 species of native bees found in North Carolina. They are considered very efficient pollinators as they actively collect pollen to feed their young. Most bees have a furry body enabling the pollen to stick to them and be carried from flower to flower. Here are just a few of the native bees you might see around your garden.

• Apidae family: Honeybee, Carpenter Bees, Bumble Bees
• Megachilidae family: Leafcutter, Mason, Resin Bees
• Halitidae family: Sweat Bees
• Colletidae family: Polyester Bees
• Andrenidae family: Mining Bees

Butterflies and Moths

Butterflies and moths are commonly seen in gardens and are a favorite among gardeners and wildlife lovers. There are around 175 different species of butterflies native to North Carolina. Instead of seeking pollen, butterflies and moths are attracted to flowers for their main food source, nectar, which is secreted in nectaries found at the base of the petals in a flower. Here are just a few of the most commonly seen butterflies in the garden.

• Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
• Spicebush Swallowtail
• Monarch
• Orange Sulphur
• Red Admiral
• Common Buckeye
• Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

Beetles

While beetles do not have a fuzzy body like bees, many beetles also like to feast on pollen which results in pollen sticking to their bodies consequently resulting in pollination.

Flies

While not as efficient a pollinator as bees, flies are somewhat underrated as a pollinator. Flies especially like flowers that produce a bad odor such as Skunk Cabbage, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, and Pawpaws.

Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds also seek out nectar and it is believed that some flowers have co-evolved with hummingbirds as their main pollinator.

Hummingbirds like flowers that have red and orange tubular flowers making it easier for them to access the nectar without having to land.

For more information on North Carolina pollinators, visit North Carolina Wildlife Federation’s The Butterfly Highway.