Welcome to Wisconsin Pollinators
Wisconsin Pollinators is a comprehensive resource to Wisconsin native pollinators including bees, butterflies and birds. There is a catalog of Wisconsin native plants and flower garden plants to create your own pollinator habitat.
Why are pollinators important? Approximately three quarters of the world’s major food crops require or benefit from animal pollination. This includes many fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, currants, plums, apples, sweet cherries, pears, watermelons, cantaloupes, cucumbers, squashes, and tomatoes. Pollinators also are beneficial for seed production in crops such as carrot, onion, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and many herbs.
How do I attract and support native pollinators? Recent declines in honeybee populations have gained much attention, but there also have been notable declines in some native bees, including many species of bumblebees. Local populations of all types of bees can be supported by cultivating flowering plants, providing nesting sites, and eliminating the use of pesticides.
Please Help Native Pollinators
Ask the Wisconsin Dept of Transportation to replace the planting of non-native grasses with pollinator-friendly native plants along Wisconsin roadways. Provide a corridor for Bees, Butterflies and Birds to move through the State and restore the natural beauty of our roadways.
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Subscribe & Enter To Win!
Subscribe to the the Wisconsin Pollinators newsletter and be entered into a drawing to win a copy of 'The Swift Guide to Butterflies of North America - a $21 value! Drawing ends July 31, 2020. The bi-weekly newsletter contains timely articles on pollinators, native plants, sustainable gardening and much more.
Wisconsin Beekeeping Clubs
Joining a beekeeping club or association is a great way to learn more about bees and beekeeping. It is extremely useful to join a local beekeeping group. It is invaluable to meet other experienced beekeepers.
Butterfly Garden Plan
Beginning a butterfly garden can be as simple as choosing flowering plants that will invite adult butterflies to your garden to feed. But if you want to create a butterfly garden that will act as a sanctuary, attracting a wide variety of butterflies while also providing a place where butterflies can grow and multiply, you will first need some simple planning. Use this guide to select plants for your garden.
All About Aphids
Learn about aphids and how to control them. Though there are many types of aphids most of those born from over-wintered eggs arrive already pregnant. This is one of the major divisions between aphid types. Many kinds of aphids give birth, amazingly, to live young. In warmer climates, aphids may go through as many as 12 generations.