Pollinators of Wisconsin – Bees, Birds, Butterflies and More

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.

What pollinators are common in Wisconsin? Pollinators in Wisconsin are primarily insects such as bees, flies, wasps, butterflies, moths, beetles, and ants, as well as hummingbirds. Bees are the most important pollinators for many plant species, and they feed almost exclusively on pollen and nectar. The non-native honeybee (Apis mellifera) is the most commonly used managed bee for pollination of crop plants. The blue orchard bee (Osmia lignaria), also referred to as the mason orchard bee, is a native managed pollinator for orchards. Wild native bees also contribute substantially to fruit and vegetable pollination. Home gardeners can have all of their pollination needs supplied by wild native bees, although if honeybee hives are located nearby, honeybees may also ontribute to pollination.