If you’re feeling that spring itch to explore outdoors, know that you’re not alone: pollinators are all a-buzz (or a-flap?) too! You’ll spot butterflies, bees and other insects—even bats, if you’re lucky—as they visit spring blooms, spreading pollen as they go to help plants form new seeds.
April is Citizen Science Month, so let’s look at ways we can support the butterflies and bees that make our world more vibrant, diverse and delicious. We’ll be celebrating pollinators (and Earth Day) at our annual Butterfly Bonanza on April 24th!
Help monarchs on the move
Around the time Texans store away their warm coats, monarch butterflies stir from their winter retreat in Mexico and prepare to migrate north. By early April, they’ve arrived in Texas, ready to lay their eggs. Those eggs will hatch and continue north as adults, laying their own eggs along the way in an amazing multi-generational relay race that spans from Canada to Mexico.
Tracking their journey are citizen scientists—everyday folks gathering data to support scientific research—who share their sightings, count butterflies and map the location of milkweed plants where monarchs lay their eggs. Unfortunately, this year’s reports show the current monarch population is down 26% from 2019. Climate change and loss of wild habitat are major factors.
To help monarchs and other butterflies, you can create a homegrown pit stop with butterfly-friendly plants. “Supporting butterflies requires both nectar plants and host plants,” explained Kirk Alston, a horticultural specialist at The Natural Gardener. “Begin with nectar plants, as they are colorful and easy to grow. With the host plants—where eggs hatch and caterpillars feast—plan to install more than you might think: the little angels will eat your plants to the ground! They will eventually re-grow, but it takes some time, and you’ll need plenty to support the caterpillars’ journey to their future life. Milkweed is a great host plant for monarchs and queen butterflies; Dutchman’s Pipevine is a great for pipevine swallowtails.”
The Science Mill’s butterfly garden guide shows some of the best plants for central Texas and how much light they need, so you can find what works for your yard. Ideally, Kirk notes, a garden should have blooms in each season; this supports more pollinators and adds a colorful element while other plants move through their life cycles. “I love gardens that are a mix of annuals, perennials, natives and exotics, plus flowering trees and shrubs,” said Kirk. “While our nursery specializes in plants native to Texas and we are big advocates for their use, we also rely on highly adaptive plants. For instance, Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) is native to the Caribbean, but is our prime attractor of monarchs when laying their eggs. It grows very well in Central Texas and our garden would not be complete without it.”
Meet the native bees of Texas
In addition to being a monarch haven, Texas is home to a remarkable variety of bees: over 800 species—about one-fourth of North America’s bee diversity—have been identified here.
As pollinators, bees support an estimated one in three bites of our food. We tend to think of honey bees, brought to North America from Europe in the 1500-1600s, as the “queen bees” of pollination. But native bees (species naturally found here) can be two to three times more effective at pollinating crops, like alfalfa, tomatoes and watermelon. Some have coevolved with plants to become pollination “specialists,” such as blueberry bees, squash bees and orchard bees. Our beloved bluebonnets and other Texas wildflowers rely on them, too.
Unfortunately, declining numbers is something native bees have in common with honey bees. You may have heard about the Colony Collapse Disorder that has decimated honey bees. Threats to wild bees are more diverse, but pesticides, loss of habitat and limited diet, which lead to weakened immune systems, are a big part of the problem.
Adding bee-friendly plants to your yard is a great way to help. To get started, Kirk has suggested a mix of plants to provide bees with blooms across the seasons (see graphic). You can also create spaces for native bees to nest. Don’t worry, your yard won’t be swarmed. Unlike honey bees’ communal hives, almost all native bees are solitary: about 70% of native Texas bees nest in the ground, while others nest inside stems, wood or rocky crevices. And if a honey bee hive is too close for comfort, don’t call an exterminator: bring in a bee removal specialist to safely relocate them instead.
RESOURCE: Photo guides to help you ID native Texas pollinators
VIDEO: See a hive rescue in action (leave this to the professionals!)
Become a citizen scientist!
Join people across the country who gather data to support scientific research. Pollinator projects include monarch counts, milkweed mapping, bee surveys and more, which you can do in your backyard and local community. The Xerces Society has a list of butterfly and bee projects around the country. Also check out the “Projects” section of iNaturalist, available online and as a mobile app, for projects on birds, frogs, trees and more.
CAREER CONNECTION:
“Don’t be afraid to experiment! In any garden, you will find that some plants are more successful than others—embrace the victories, but remember the defeats. The garden is a journey, not a destination.” — Kirk Alston, horticultural specialist