Hope is Blooming
Summer Pollinators: Nature as Full Speed
If spring is about emergence, summer is about expansion.
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Summer in Action
Summer, the peak of pollinator activity, is a season where everything happens at once. Bees nest, butterflies lay eggs, and larvae grow. Adult pollinators are foraging nonstop.
The Complexity of Summer
Unlike spring or fall, summer encompasses all stages of life simultaneously. Many pollinators produce multiple generations, called broods, during the summer months. That means:
Eggs mature on host plants.
Caterpillars and larvae actively feed on leaves.
Pupae develop quietly nearby.
Adults forage, mate, and collect nectar.
One plant can take on many responsibilities. A single milkweed plant, for example, might host tiny monarch eggs, feed caterpillars, house chrysalises tucked underneath leaves, and provide nectar for visiting butterflies and bees.
Summer landscapes are not only busy; they are layered with life.
Summer Bees: Foraging and Nesting
Throughout summer bees actively forage for nectar on ripe flowers laden with pollen. Nectar provides them with a crucial source of energy to reproduce, build nests, and care for their young.
Most solitary bees, such as mining bees, are ground-nesters, that dig burrows or tunnels underground. In contrast, cavity-nesters, including mason and leafcutter bees, build their nests aboveground in hollow stems or column-like containers. Others, like the carpenter bees, are wood-boring and chew tunnels into wooden structures.
Social bees, such as honey bees and some bumblebees, create colonies. Honey bees build permanent, structured hives, while bumblebees create annual colonies.
Summer Butterflies: Eggs, Caterpillars, Chrysalises
Summer generations of butterflies have a lifespan of 2 to 5 weeks. During this short time, they can be seen foraging for nectar on summer blooms. Look for them on the tall spikes of purple Echinacea and fragrant Butterfly Bush or low lying ground covers like clovers.
When they are not foraging, butterflies engage in mating and egg-laying activities to ensure the production of multiple generations. Host plants play a crucial role in their reproduction. They serve as nurseries where butterflies lay their eggs, and caterpillars feed on the leaves before undergoing pupation. Native plants that act as host plants for butterflies include:
- Milkweeds, the exclusive host plant for Monarch caterpillars.
- Violets, the primary host for Fritillary butterflies.
How to Spot Summer Pollinators: Follow the Blooms
As spring flowers begin to fade, keep an eye out for the vibrant blooms of summer. Yellow sunflowers, purple coneflowers, and milkweed are nectar-rich flowers and some of the first to bloom in the summer. Look for them in flowers clusters, garden beds, and host plants with visible leaf damage.
Bees are often spotted foraging in sunny, flower-rich areas such as gardens, meadows, flowering trees, and open grasslands. Butterflies, on the other hand, are best spotted in open, sunny locations, where they can warm their wings.They are also found in damp areas or small puddles where they absorb minerals. Look for them in gardens, open meadows, herb patches, and on host plants.
TIP: Tell-tale sign of a host plant? Lots of caterpillars and chewed leaves.
Support at Every Stage
It is easy to focus on visible pollinators like bees and butterflies visiting flowers, but supporting pollinators involves nurturing their entire life cycle. This includes ensuring plants provide food for caterpillars, shelter for developing pupae and eggs, and nectar for adults.
Offer Continuous Blooms
- Ensure continuous flowering from early spring to late fall.
- Choose a mix of shapes and colors to support various species.
- Group plantings help pollinators forage efficiently.
Provide Host Plants for Eggs and Larvae
Plant native species that caterpillars and larvae depend on such as milkweed, native grasses, and wildflowers. Avoid removing chewed leaves. They may indicate the presence of life, not damage.
Discover Native plants by region at Xerces Society: Pollinator-Friendly Native Plants by State
Add Water Sources and Reduce Disturbance
- Provide shallow dishes with stones for landing.
- Add damp soil or mud patches to provide minerals.
- Limit pesticide use; even organic sprays can harm larvae.
- Delay cutting seed heads and hollow stems until early spring.
Protect Nesting Habitat for Bees
- Leave small patches of bare ground for ground-nesting bees.
- Preserve hollow stems and undisturbed areas.
- Avoid heavy mulching.
A Different Way to See Your Garden
In summer, your garden becomes a vibrant ecosystem, serving as a living nursery, a feeding ground, and a sanctuary for pollinators simultaneously. When you notice chewing marks on leaves, insects on stems, or tiny eggs beneath a leaf, you are discovering the intricate life stages that make pollination possible. By supporting pollinators during the summer season, you are protecting each stage in the pollination process.
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Resources
POLLINATORS BY STATE
Spring Pollinators:The First Buzz of Spring
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NATIVE PLANTS