Essential Pollinators

 

After last week's spring and summerish weather, you might be seeing more pollinators in your neighborhood. 

Pollinators — including bees, butterflies, birds, bats, and moths — are essential to New Jersey’s food, gardens, and natural areas: roughly one out of every three bites of food depends on animal pollination, and local programs from Rutgers and Jersey‑Friendly Yards offer practical, region‑specific ways to help. 

Pollinators transfer pollen that enables plants to produce fruits, seeds, and nuts. This service supports about one‑third of global food production and underpins many of the fruits, vegetables, nuts, and oilseeds that make diets nutritious. 

In the United States, insect pollination was valued at tens of billions of dollars, reflecting the economic importance of these species to agriculture and local farms. New Jersey crops that rely on pollinators include blueberries, cranberries, peaches, tomatoes, and peppers. Native bees and honey bees both contribute to these yields. 

Native plantings and small habitat patches in yards, parks, and roadsides make a measurable difference because many pollinators are short‑ranged and depend on continuous floral resources. 

Primary threats to pollinators are habitat loss, pesticide exposure, disease and parasites, and climate change. Populations of many pollinator species have declined in recent decades, which can reduce crop yields and the availability of nutrient‑rich foods. 

What are some practical actions for New Jersey residents?

1. Plant native species that bloom from early spring through fall to provide continuous nectar and pollen. Rutgers and Jersey‑Friendly Yards offer region‑specific plant lists and planting guides. 
2. Cluster plantings and include host plants for caterpillars (e.g., milkweed for monarchs) to support both adult pollinators and larvae. 
3. Reduce or eliminate pesticide use and adopt integrated pest management; when treatment is necessary, apply at night and avoid bloom periods. 
4. Provide nesting and water resources: leave some bare ground for ground‑nesting bees, retain dead wood for cavity nesters, and offer shallow water sources. 
5. Replacing lawns with native plantings reduces mowing and chemical use but may require initial investment and maintenance. Expect some leaf or caterpillar feeding on host plants; this is normal and supports butterfly life cycles.

Jersey‑Friendly Yards provides planting guides and local tips for New Jersey homeowners. 

Rutgers Cooperative Extension offers county‑level guidance, native plant lists, and Master Gardener programs. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service New Jersey Field Office publishes recommended native plant lists for pollinators and habitat restoration guidance. 

See a list (pdf) of Native Plants for Pollinators and Beneficial Insects for our Mid-Atlantic Region