Pollinators

What is a pollinator?

A pollinator is any organism that helps with the cross-pollination of plants. They are vital to the survival of most of the world’s ecosystems, with an estimated 70-87% of flowering plants relying on pollinators! Many of these plants are food crops that humans rely upon and most of the others are key members of all our natural ecosystems. Bottomline: Pollinators are extremely important!

In Iowa, pollinators include numerous insects and perhaps the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. In other parts of the world, bats can also play a role in pollination. 

However, in Iowa, pollination is overwhelmingly helped along by insects, most notably bees but also butterflies, moths, and even flies and beetles. The most important pollinators are bees and wasps, butterflies and moths.

Monarch Butterflies

One of the most famous pollinators is the Monarch butterfly. Probably no other insect species is as well known and evokes the amount of love as this species. Most children, at least in Midwestern states like Iowa, are introduced to the process of butterfly metamorphosis at least once in their elementary school when a yellow, black and white monarch caterpillar is brought into their classroom. 

The eastern Monarch butterfly population, of which Iowa’s Monarchs are a part, is famous for its annual southward fall migration from the United States and Canada to central Mexico, flying a distance of roughly 3,000 miles (4,800 km). For comparison, Iowa at its widest point from the Mississippi to the Missouri is just a smidge over 300 miles, 1/10 of the distance most migratory Monarchs fly. Pretty astounding for such a small critter!

In recent years there has been increasing concern about the health of the population and migration of Monarch Butterflies. Their numbers have dropped significantly in the last 10-15 years. For more information on what’s happening nationally visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Save the Monarch page. Iowa is a very important state for this species and the Iowa DNR along with numerous partners AND many citizens have been working hard to make sure the Monarch Butterfly is here to delight us for many years to come. Read below for more information about the Monarch Butterfly in Iowa!

Prominent Pollinators

Butterflies

There are about 110 species of butterfly that reproduce in Iowa. 51 are designated Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Iowa’s Wildlife Action Plan or 46% of the total species in the state. Two species are federally listed under the Endangered Species Act; the Poweshiek Skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek) and Dakota skipper (Hesperia dacotae).

Bees and Wasps

There are 4000 species of bees in North America. The exact number of species in Iowa is unknown but there are likely between 400-500 native species. The species people are most familiar with, the Honey bee, is not a native species and was introduced to the United States for its ability to produce honey. There are many more species of native bees, like bumble and mason bees, which also play an important role in pollination. 

The Rusty Patched Bumble Bee (Bombus affinis) which has a few occurrences in Iowa, recently became the first bumblebee to be listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act. 

There is a brochure available for download of the bumble bees in Iowa.  

Moths

More than 2000 species of moths have been recorded in the state of Iowa.! There are day-flying and night-flying moths, micromoths with a wingspan of 3 mm and giants like the Luna moth which can measure up to 114 mm from wingtip to wingtip. Little is known about the status of any of the moth species in Iowa, but you can learn about many of our species on the Insects of Iowa website.

Create a Habitat for Pollinators

One thing pollinators have going for them is that most species can take advantage of habitat almost anywhere it is provided. This means that any landowner, whether they own a lot that can be measured in square feet or acres, can create habitat for pollinators.

The main characteristics a good pollinator garden needs to have are: 

1. flowering plants
2. plants that bloom from Spring through Fall
3. ideally, use predominantly plant species that are native to Iowa.

 There are many species to choose from and they are adapted to Iowa’s environment.  Most are perennials or good self-seeders (less maintenance!) and our native pollinators love them.

A pollinator garden can be as formal or as “wild” as you would like. If planting a smaller area that you want to look more formal, it is best to plant plugs of prairie species rather than trying to spread seed. If planting a larger area and wanting a more natural look a seed mix diverse in flowering prairie species will be more economical, though it will take a bit longer (3-4 years) and a little more maintenance (mowing) before it starts looking its best.

Planting Prairie in Your Back Yard

• Planting Prairie Part 1: Harvesting and buying seed
• Planting Prairie Part 2: Planting prairie from seed
• Planting Prairie Part 3: Planting a prairie garden from starts

For larger areas, if you'd like some assistance, landowners can contact the DNR Wildlife Bureau’s Private Lands biologists for advice and assistance. The DNR also has forestry staff that can work with private landowners and you will find a great guide to shrubs and trees that are good for pollinators on their webpage.

Support Your Pollinators

• Create your own backyard habitat
• Collect data (become a Citizen Scientist)
• Use pesticides minimally and responsibly
• Register your pollinator garden