Promoting alternative pollinators

Pollinator diversity is important for ecosystem function and sustainability, including food production. The importance of non-honey bee pollinators, like native bees, moths, flies and beetles, has been greatly overlooked. However, the public perception of pollination is now changing.

This project seeks to increase the public understanding of the importance of diverse pollinator communities and conduct research into the best methods of promoting non-bee pollinators and other beneficial invertebrates.

How to encourage pollinators in your garden:

• Construct a hover fly lagoon
• Stop mowing your lawn in spring and summer
• Reduce your use of pesticides and insecticides

Image:  The hover fly, Eristalis tenax visiting a strawberry flower. J. Finch.