Pollinator Week Is Here!

Oh, that's right, folks: June 18–24 is National Pollinator Week! Why is this such a thrilling moment in the year of the natural world? The incredible world of pollinators awaits discovery...by you!

This varied collection of creatures – mostly insects, but some other cool specimens – are fun to watch and can be found just about anywhere, including your own yard. Other places to take a peek at pollinators? Fields, farms, community gardens, and parks. But, why should we care about pollinators? Pollinators are crucial to the growth of food and the health of the world around us. In celebration of these tiny creatures that make our lives healthier and more interesting, why not pick a sunny day to get outside to identify some of the many species and experience habitats important for their survival. Here's a handy photo guide with five of our favorites.

Butterflies: More than 100 species of butterflies can be found in Massachusetts. (Photo Credit: Howard Hoople) 
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Moths: Moths differ from butterflies in that most fly during the night and they do not have “clubbed” antennae. Some fly by day, like this hummingbird moth – a common visitor to flower gardens and yards. (Photo credit: Howard Hoople)  Hummingbirds: Massachusetts is home to only one hummingbird, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. (Photo credit: Greg Dysart)  Flies: Many flies are excellent pollinators and some even mimic bees, such as this Surphid fly. Flies typically lack antennae and have huge eyes that meet in the middle, whereas bees have noticeable antennae and their eyes do not meet. (Photo credit: Howard Hoople)  Beetles: There are hundreds of beetle species in Massachusetts and not all are pollinators. Those that do pollinate can be seen crawling around on flowers - especially flowers with clusters with many small flowers, like goldenrod. (Photo credit: Greg Dysart)  Bumble Bees: These big, fuzzy bees are work horses in the pollinator world. They are often the first bees active in the morning and the last bees foraging in the evening. They even work during cool – and sometimes rainy – weather. (Photo Credit: Greg Dysart)  Honey Bees: The source of honey, these non-native bees were brought to North America by​ European colonists. There is only one species of honeybee in Massachusetts. (Photo credit: Howard Hoople)  Sweat or Metallic Bees: These small and colorful bees are common in gardens. You can often see collected pollen on their back legs. (Photo credit: Greg Dystart) 

For more information on pollinators and what you can do to help them, visit the Pollinator Partnership website – or attend one of our pollinator programs in the coming weeks:
Planting for Wildlife | June 21
The Buzz About Native Pollinators | August 18
The Buzz About Native Pollinators | August 25
The Buzz About Native Pollinators | September 15

Want to get out into fields and farms to check out pollinators yourselves? Here are some great sites to do it at: Stevens-Coolidge Place, Long Hill, Appleton Farms, World's End, Powisset Farm, Bird Park, Doyle Community Park, Westport Town Farm, Bartholomew’s Cobble, and Bullitt Reservation.

Published June 2012

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Submitted by Arianna on: June 18, 2012

Neat! I did not know there was a National Pollinator Week; thanks for bringing to our attention. Pretty selection of pollinator images - looking forward to seeing more.