Wildlife Habitat Management Institute

Native Pollinators

May 2005 Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management Leaflet Number 34

Introduction

Pollination is an ecosystem process that has evolved 

over millions of years to benefit both flowering plants 

and pollinators. Pollinators visit flowers for many 

reasons, including feeding, pollen collection, and 

warmth. When pollinators visit flowers, pollen rubs or 

drops onto their bodies. The pollen is then transferred 

to another flower or a different part of the same flower as the pollinator moves from one location to the 

next. This process is a vital stage in the life cycle of 

all flowering plants and is necessary to start seed and 

fruit production in flowers. Not only do pollinators 

provide essential services in nature, they are also necessary for healthy, productive agricultural ecosystems 

as they ensure the production of full-bodied fruit and 

fertile seed sets in many crops.

Although some plant species rely on wind or water to 

transfer pollen from one flower to the next, the vast 

majority (almost 90%) of all plant species need the 

help of animals for this task. There are approximately 

200,000 different species of animals around the world 

that act as pollinators. Of these, about 1,000 are vertebrates, such as birds, bats, and small mammals, and 

the rest are invertebrates, including flies, beetles, butterflies, moths, and bees.

This leaflet is designed to bring much needed attention to native pollinators. Native pollinators are adapted to local climate conditions, soils, and plant life and, 

thus, require limited management or maintenance. By 

reading this leaflet, landowners should gain a better 

understanding of the great value of native pollinators 

and that many species face a serious risk of decline. 

The leaflet presents the habitat requirements of a variety of native pollinators and offers practical ideas for 

their conservation and management.

Value of pollinators

Animals pollinate approximately 75 percent of the 

crop plants grown worldwide for food, fiber, beverages, condiments, spices, and medicines. It has been calculated that one out of every three to four mouthfuls 

of food we eat and beverages we drink is delivered to 

us by pollinators. As such, agricultural products that 

are produced with the help of pollinators make a significant contribution to the economy. For example, it 

has been estimated that insect-pollinated crops directly contributed $20 billion to the United States economy in the year 2000. If this calculation were to include indirect products, such as milk and beef from 

cattle fed on alfalfa, the value of pollinators to agricultural production would be raised to $40 billion in the 

United States alone. Table 1 shows some of the common agricultural crops that are dependent upon or 

benefited by insect pollination.

Not only do native pollinators provide us with a significant amount of the food we eat and contribute to the 

economy, they also perform key roles in natural ecosystem. By helping to keep plant communities healthy 

and able to reproduce naturally, native pollinators assist plants in providing food and cover for wildlife, 

preventing erosion, and keeping waterways clean. 

Pollinated plants produce fruit and seeds which are 

a major part of the diet of approximately 25 percent NRCS of bird species, as well as many mammals. Flowering Painted lady butterfly

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Native Pollinators

NRCS

The apple industry relies on insect pollinators.

plants also provide egg laying and nesting sites for 

many insects, including butterflies. Pollinators support biodiversity, and there is a positive correlation 

between plant diversity and pollinator diversity.

Decline of native pollinators

Human activities have destroyed and fragmented 

many native pollinator habitats. Many remaining habitat areas are isolated and degraded by invasive plant 

species, making them less suitable for native pollinators and other wildlife. These changes in habitat can 

lead to a reduction of native pollinator food sources and sites for mating, nesting, roosting, and migration. Excessive use and improper application of many 

pesticides impact pollinators and their habitats. Some 

insecticides directly kill pollinators, particularly pollinating insects, and herbicides reduce forage plant diversity by killing wildflowers. Non-native pollinators, 

such as honeybees, can out-compete native pollinators for local nectar resources, placing them at greater risk of decline. The destruction and fragmentation 

of pollinator habitats have led to significant declines 

in many populations. At least 185 species of pollinators are considered threatened or extinct by the 

World Conservation Union (IUCN), and at least 2 bat 

and 13 bird species listed as endangered in the United 

States are pollinators.

Native pollinator habitat requirements

Bees

Bees provide an important pollination service for 

most terrestrial ecosystems worldwide. In the United 

States, honeybees and thousands of species of native 

bees are responsible for pollinating crops, as well as 

garden, meadow, and forest plants. There are about 

4,000 species of bees native to the United States, the 

great majority of which are solitary nesting bees. 

Bumblebees are the exception, as they live in social 

colonies. Most bees visit flowers to get pollen and/or 

nectar, which they use to feed themselves and their 

offspring.

Table 1 Crops dependent upon or benefited by insect pollination

Legumes and Beans, Cowpea, Lima Beans, Lupines, Mung Bean/Green or Golden Gram, Soybean 

relatives 

Vegetables Artichoke, Asparagus, Beet, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cantaloupes, Carrot, Cauliflower, 

Celeriac, Celery, Cucumber, Eggplant, Endive, Green Pepper, Leek, Lettuce, Okra, Onion, 

Parsnip, Pumpkin, Radish, Rutabaga, Squash, Tomato, Turnip, White Gourd

Fruits, berries Almonds, Apple, Apricot, Avocado, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cacao, Cashew, Cherry, Chestnut, 

and nuts Citrus, Coffee, Coconut, Crabapple, Cranberry, Currant, Date, Fig, Gooseberry, Grapes, 

Guava, Huckleberry, Kiwi, Kolanut, Litchi, Macadamia, Mango, Olive, Papaw, Papaya, 

Passionfruit, Peach, Pear, Persimmon, Plum, Pomegranate, Raspberry, Strawberry, Tung, 

Vanilla, Watermelon

Herbs and Allpsice, Anise, Black Pepper, Caraway, Cardamom, Chive, Clove, Coriander, Dill, Fennel, 

spices Lavender, Mustard, Nutmeg, Parsley, Pimento, Tea, White Pepper

Oils, seeds and Alfalfa, Buckwheat, Canola, Flax, Oil Palm, Safflower, Sesame, Sunflower

grains 

Clover and rel- Alsike Clover, Arrowleaf Clover, Ball Clover, Berseem Clover, Black Medic/Yellow Trefoil, 

atives Cider Milkvetch, Crimson Clover, Lespedeza, Peanut, Persian Clover, Red Clover, Rose 

Clover, Strawberry Clover, Subterranean Clover, Sweet Clover, Trefoil, Vetch, White Clover 

Other Cotton, Kenaf 

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Native Pollinators

NRCS

A bumblebee visits a purple coneflower.

Honeybees are relied upon heavily for crop pollination and honey production. However, honeybees are 

not native to North America. Many species of native 

bees do exist in North America, and horticulturists, 

conservationists, ecologists, and home gardeners are 

becoming more aware that they are important for pollination. Not only do native bees pollinate agricultural 

crops, they also play an integral role in the functioning of natural ecosystems.

Among the most common native pollinators are solitary bees, aptly named because most do not assemble 

in hives or colonies, and those that do aggregate live 

solitary lives among the others. Solitary bees pollinate 

valuable commercial crops such as apples, alfalfa, watermelon, sunflowers, strawberries, and blueberries. 

Solitary bees nest in a variety of interesting places including sticks, dirt mounds, and termite holes. A few 

species construct domed nests out of mud, plant resins, saps, or gums on the surface of rocks or trees. 

Many bees use abandoned beetle burrows or other tunnels in dead standing trees, or excavate their 

nests within the soft central pith of stems and twigs. 

Most species of solitary bees, however, nest in the 

ground, digging a tunnel in bare or partially vegetated, well-drained soil. Depending on the species, solitary bees can be generalist feeders or specialist feeders. Generalists are bees that gather nectar and pollen 

from a wide range of flower types and species. Often 

these are the more resilient species, able to survive 

in degraded environments with weedy or non-native 

plants. Specialists, on the other hand, rely on a single plant species or a closely related group of plants 

for nectar and pollen, and are more susceptible to the 

negative effects of landscape or habitat changes.

Bumblebees are social bees, meaning they live in colonies, share work, and have multiple, overlapping 

generations throughout the spring, summer, and fall. 

Bumblebees need a suitably sized cavity in which to 

nest. Sometimes this cavity is above ground, such as 

in hollow trees or walls, or under a clump of grass, 

but more often bumblebees nest underground, sometimes in abandoned rodent holes. Bumblebees are 

generalist feeders and forage on a wide range of 

plants.

Butterflies

More than 700 species of native butterflies exist in 

North America. Butterflies, like all pollinators, are 

closely linked to their environments, such that drastic changes in the ecosystem can be devastating to localized populations or species. A butterfly’s life has 

four stages: egg, caterpillar, pupa, and adult. The habitat needs of the butterfly vary from stage to stage, and 

each has needs that must be considered to provide 

suitable habitat.

Leaves and branches of trees and shrubs, wildflowers, 

grasses, and soil serve as substrates for butterfly eggs. 

However, most butterfly species are limited to one or 

a few closely related plant species that can successfully serve as host plants for the caterpillars, and females must lay their eggs on or near the host plant in 

order for the caterpillar to survive. For example, monarch butterfly caterpillars eat only milkweed, and female monarchs will only lay eggs on or near milkweed 

plants. Caterpillars feed on the leaves, stems, flowers, 

or fruits of their host plants, which also serve to cover 

them from potential predators.

After several weeks of eating and growing, caterpillars begin to transform into their adult forms. This 

transformation is called the pupa stage, and it is the 

non-feeding, stationary stage of a butterfly’s life. 

Though they do not require food, pupae do need a 

protected site, such as a bush, tall grass, or a pile 

of leaves or sticks, on which to transform into their 

adult forms.

NRCS

Butterflies are important pollinators of flowering plants.

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Native Pollinators

Adult butterflies rely almost solely on nectar for food. 

In general, butterflies prefer colorful, fragrant flowers 

with surfaces that are flat and broad enough on which 

to land. The best nectar choices for adult butterflies 

are the daisy family (asters, goldenrods, dahlias, marigolds, zinnias), dogbane, butterfly weed, milkweed, 

ironweed, coneflower (Rudbeckia), goldenrod, fleabane, thistle, peony, lupine, vetch, wild yarrow, and 

phlox. The adult males of some species also obtain 

nutrients, minerals, and salt from rotting fruit, tree 

sap, animal dung and urine, carrion, clay deposits, 

and mud puddles. The leaves, stems, and branches of 

the host plants provide perching sites on which adult 

butterflies can feed, sun, and rest. Vegetation and 

small woodpiles can also provide cover from wind, 

rain, and predators. To fly, adult butterflies need to be 

warm, so they will sit on sunny surfaces to warm up 

before taking flight.

It is well known that monarch butterflies migrate 

great distances to overwinter. While other butterfly 

species simply die before winter, many butterfly species hibernate. Hibernation occurs at different life 

stages, depending on the species. Hibernation can 

take place under leaf litter or loose bark, or in piles of 

logs or other debris.

Moths

The vast majority of moths are nocturnal, and some 

are very important pollinators of night-blooming flowers, particularly in desert regions of the southwestern 

United States and Mexico. For example, the female 

yucca moth has mouthparts that allow her to gather 

a ball of pollen under which she lays her eggs in the 

stigma of the yucca flower. This process also ensures 

that yucca cross-pollination occurs. In general, moth 

habitat needs are similar to those of butterflies.

Beetles and flies

Flies and beetles are two important groups of native 

pollinators. Some flies resemble bees because they 

mimic bee coloration and patterns, allowing them to 

evade predation. Bees and flies both have transparent, 

membranous wings, but can be distinguished from 

one another because flies have two wings, while bees 

have four. Some pollinating beetles are quite small 

and difficult to see, resembling black specks on flowers, while others are large and colorful. There are 

hundreds of thousands of species of flies and beetles 

and many have yet to be identified. Habitat requirements vary from species to species. Flies and beetles 

require food, water, and cover in sufficient quality and 

quantity for each of their life stages (egg, larva, pupa, 

adult).

Charlie Rewa, NRCS 

Syrphid flies are important pollinators and the larvae of 

some species eat insect pests such as aphids. 

Bats

Some plants with nocturnal blossoms are pollinated 

by bats. Bananas, mangoes, dates, figs, peaches, cashews, guava, avocados, and agaves (used to make tequila) rely on bats for pollination. Forty-five species of 

bats occur in the United States; the greatest concentrations live in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, 

and southern California. It is estimated that 40 percent of American bat species are either endangered or 

suffering significant declines. The primary causes for 

the decline of bat species is the loss of roosting habitat and the degradation of natural desert habitats in 

the Southwest. Loss of roosting habitat is due to cave 

and mine closure, vandalism and intentional habitat 

destruction, development and deforestation, and the 

removal of live trees, snags, and hedgerows from agricultural fields, farmlands, and other rural landscapes.

Bats roost by hanging inverted from tree branches or 

in tree cavities, caves, mines, or rock crevices. They 

may also roost in tangled hedgerow thickets, under 

tree bark and bridges, or in attics, roofs, barns, or other structures that provide an overhang. Bats use roost 

sites for hibernation, to raise their young, to rest during the day, and for migratory stopovers.

The diets of bats vary from species to species. Many 

species are generalists and display opportunistic feeding behavior, feeding on whatever is available at the 

time. Frugivorous and nectivorous bats eat fruit, pollen, or nectar from plants or flowers. Insectivorous 

bats feed primarily on night-flying insects such as 

moths, beetles, fruit flies, mosquitoes, mayflies, caddis 

flies, and midges. Foraging habitat for bats includes 

woodlot canopies and understory, over streams and 

other bodies of water, in open fields and agricultural 

cropland, over desert landscapes, and in lighted, residential areas in which large populations of insects 

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Native Pollinators

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Many fruits rely on bats for pollination.

exist. Bats require open bodies of clean water large 

enough for them to skim the surface to drink.

Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds play an important role in the pollination of numerous species of shrubs and vines, some of 

which are specifically adapted to pollination by hummingbirds. Hummingbirds are adapted to drinking 

nectar from tubular-shaped blossoms, which they help 

pollinate while feeding. For example, the ruby-throated hummingbird’s long, thin bill is perfectly adapted 

to the deep tubular flower of plants like the trumpet 

creeper, allowing it to reach deep within the flower to 

the nectar.

Hummingbirds are primarily woodland birds, occupying mixed woodlands, eastern deciduous forests, 

gardens, orchards, yards, overgrown pastures, citrus groves, scrub communities, hedgerows, and fence 

rows. They need trees, shrubs, and vines for shelter, 

shade, and nesting cover. Hummingbirds make their 

nests from downy plant fibers, such as thistle, dandelion, milkweed down, ferns, fireweed, young leaves, 

or moss, held together by spider silk and coated on 

the outside with lichens. Nests are constructed about 

5 feet above the ground, usually on branches of oak, 

birch, maple, beech, hornbeam, hemlock, poplar, 

hackberry, pine, or spruce trees.

Hummingbirds feed on nectar from wildflower blossoms and flowers of many species of shrubs and 

vines. Hummingbirds will try to feed at any flower with nectar, no matter what its shape, color, size, 

or position. Insects, such as mosquitoes, gnats, fruit 

flies, and small bees form a large part of hummingbirds’ diets. They also eat tree sap, spiders, caterpillars, aphids, insect eggs, and willow catkins. 

Hummingbirds derive water from the nectar and insects consumed, and so do not require a source of water for drinking. However, they will bathe in water, if 

it is available.

In the winter, hummingbirds migrate to tropical regions where they use habitats similar to those used in 

summer.

Hummingbird feeders can be made to attract 

hummingbirds to backyards and gardens. To 

make artificial nectar, use four parts water 

to one part table sugar. Never use artificial 

sweeteners, honey, or fruit juices. Feeders 

must be cleaned with hot soapy water at least 

twice a week to keep them free of mold.

Nectar corridors

The migration of pollinators, including monarch butterflies and some bat and hummingbird species, is a 

significant phenomenon. Certain species migrate over 

paths that stretch thousands of miles while pursuing blooming plants — north to south in fall, south to 

north in spring. To ensure the survival of migratory 

pollinators, three types of habitat needs must be considered. These are summer breeding and foraging areas, secure overwintering sites, and between the two, 

nectar corridors and rest stops. Nectar corridors are 

patches of nectar-rich plant habitat, which act as stepping-stones for the pollinators on their long migratory 

journeys. Due to development and land use changes, 

many nectar corridors are no longer intact. Migrating 

pollinators must attempt to survive their journey 

through scattered habitats that contain little food. The 

lack of fuel (nectar) along migratory routes is much to 

blame for dramatically decreasing populations of migratory pollinators.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Hummingbirds pollinate as they drink nectar from flowers.

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Native Pollinators

NRCS

Clumps of flowers will attract more pollinators than individual plants.

Attracting native pollinators

To attract native pollinators, an area must have adequate sources of food, shelter, water, and nesting sites 

(table 2). Habitat management activities can be undertaken to ensure that habitat needs are met. For 

example, landowners can purchase, build, or plant 

additional nest sites or shelter for bats, bees, and butterflies. The North American Pollinator Protection 

Campaign (NAPPC), in partnership with the Wildlife 

Habitat Council and the Xerces Society, has created 

a list of Pollinator Friendly Practices, which consider six different areas of land use management: foraging habitat, reproduction, shelter, invasive/exotic species control, chemical use, and monitoring. Habitat 

management practices vary depending on the type of 

native pollinator targeted. However, there are a number of habitat management practices that will benefit 

most, if not all, groups of native pollinators. These include planting appropriate vegetation, providing water, and using pesticides carefully.

Table 2 General native pollinator habitat requirements

Pollinator Food Shelter

Solitary bees Nectar and pollen Most nest in bare or partially vegetated, welldrained soil; can also construct domed nests of 

mud, plant resins, saps, or gums on the surface 

of rocks or trees; nest in tunnels in dead 

standing trees, or excavate nests within the 

pith of stems and twigs

Bumblebees Nectar and pollen Nesting cavity is most often underground but 

can be in hollow trees or walls, or under a 

clump of grass.

Butterflies and 

Moths – egg

Non-feeding stage Usually larval host plant 

Butterflies and 

Moths – Caterpillar

Leaves of larval host plants Larval host plants

Butterflies and 

Moths - Pupa

Non-feeding stage Protected site such as a bush, tall grass, or a 

pile of leaves or sticks

Butterflies and Nectar; some males obtain nutrients, Leaves, stems, or branches of larval host 

Moths – Adult minerals, and salt from rotting fruit, 

tree sap, animal dung and urine, 

carrion, clay deposits, and mud 

puddles

plants; also other vegetation and small 

woodpiles

Bats Many species are generalists; others 

eat fruit, pollen, nectar, or night-flying 

insects

Tree branches, tree cavities, caves, mines, rock 

crevices, tangled hedgerow thickets, under 

tree bark, under structures that provide an 

overhang

Hummingbirds Nectar, insects, tree sap, spiders, 

caterpillars, aphids, insect eggs, and 

willow catkins

Trees, shrubs, and vines

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Native Pollinators

Plant-appropriate vegetation

The easiest way to attract native pollinators is to plant 

gardens or meadows that contain a diversity of native 

wildflowers, trees, and shrubs. A variety of wildflowers and native grasses will provide native pollinators 

with food (nectar, pollen, and/or larval host plants). 

Trees and dense shrubbery provide important shelter, nesting, and overwintering areas for pollinators. 

To maximize food and shelter, landowners should include gardens, fruit-bearing trees and shrubs, thickets and hedgerows of flowering shrubs, and set-asides 

(areas that are not mowed) in their plans. Due to differing preferences among pollinator species, planted 

areas should contain varying levels of vegetation and 

areas of sun, partial shade, and full shade. Plantings 

should be done in locations that are sheltered from 

the wind.

Plants native to the region should be selected. Native 

plants are adapted to the local climate, soils, and the 

native pollinators with which they co-evolved. Native 

plants should comprise at least 75 percent of a habitat area. Invasive species should not be planted because they will degrade pollinator and other wildlife 

habitat by interfering with the natural structure and 

composition of the ecosystem. For information on native plants, landowners should consult with their local native plant society. Contact information for state 

and provincial native plant societies can be found at

http://www.nanps.org/associations/frame.shtml. 

Mowed lawn area should be minimized in favor of 

patches of native wildflowers, shrubs, and grasses. 

Lawn areas that do exist should be mowed less frequently to allow the vegetation to provide habitat for 

pollinators. Perennials should be chosen over annuals. Perennials are generally richer in nectar and, because they bloom year after year, provide a more dependable food source than annuals. Horticultural 

plants bred as “doubles,” such as marigolds and roses, 

should also be avoided because they have been bred 

for appearance rather than for pollen and nectar availability. Each species of flower should be grown in a 

clump, as this will attract more pollinators than individual plants.

Both nectar and pollen flowers should be available 

throughout the growing season. A variety of flower 

shapes and colors will provide nectar and pollen for a 

variety of pollinators. Birds and butterflies favor bell, 

tube, or trumpet shaped flowers or those with clusters of tubular florets, especially when rimmed with a 

flat surface for perching. They prefer brightly colored 

flowers, including reds, oranges, and yellows. Bees 

Provide water

Many groups of native pollinators need water to survive, whereas, others will simply be attracted to fresh 

water. Providing a source of pesticide-free water and 

mud will attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. 

A birdbath, fountain, dripping faucet, small pond, or 

mud puddle will attract bees, butterflies, and other 

beneficial insects. Although not required for drinking, providing a source of running water for bathing 

can make a wildflower garden more attractive to hummingbirds. A damp salt lick can be created for butterflies and bees. Create a damp area on the soil using a dripping hose, drip irrigation line, or birdbath. 

Mix a small bit of sea salt or wood ashes into the mud, 

which will provide butterflies and bees with their mineral requirements.

Use pesticides carefully

Pesticides, including herbicides and insecticides, do 

not discriminate between good species and bad species. An insecticide applied to eliminate a crop-eating insect may also kill valuable native pollinators. 

All groups of pollinators, as well as other wildlife, 

can be negatively affected or killed by pesticide use. 

Poisoning of pollinators may result from contaminated food (pollen and nectar), or directly from florets, 

leaves, soil, or other materials that may have come 

into contact with pesticides. Insecticide use should be 

reduced and herbicide use should be kept to a minimum to support the full range of native pollinators. 

Landowners should choose non-chemical or organic 

solutions to combat insect problems. If an insecticide 

is absolutely necessary, use the least toxic material 

possible, use it according to package directions, and 

treat plants at the time of day or period in the season 

when their flowers are not in bloom. Integrated Pest 

Management (IPM) is a critical component of safe 

habitat management for pollinators. For more information, see Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management 

NRCS are most attracted to purple, blue, and yellow flowers. If natural sources of water are not available, birdbaths Also, remember that night-blooming flowers will sup- can provide water for many types of pollinators. port moths and bats.

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Native Pollinators

Leaflet Number 24: Integrated Pest Management and 

Wildlife.

Conclusion

Because of the ecosystem services they provide and 

their unique adaptations to local climate, soils, and 

vegetation, native pollinators are immensely valuable 

to the environment and the economy. Despite their 

value, native pollinators are declining and often under-appreciated in terms of their services to healthy 

ecosystems. Human activities have destroyed and 

fragmented native pollinator habitat. However, landowners can work to increase native pollinator habitat 

on privately-owned lands by planting appropriate vegetation, providing water, limiting pesticide use, and 

providing the habitat needs for specific groups of pollinators (bees, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, bats, 

or hummingbirds).

References

Online sources

Atlantic Food and Horticulture Research Centre. 2003. 

The bees of Maritime Canada. http://res2.agr.

ca/kentville/pubs/bees-abeilles_e.htm [Accessed 8 

December 2004].

Hilton Pond Center. 2003. The importance of 

pollinators. http://www.hiltonpond.org/

ThisWeek031008.html [Accessed 8 December 

2004].

Hinterland Who’s Who. 2004. Nurture a nectar 

corridor. http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=161

[Accessed 9 December 2004].

McGregor, S.E., U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1976. 

Insect pollination of cultivated crop plants: the 

first and only virtual beekeeping book updated 

continuously. http://gears.tucson.ars.ag.gov/book/

[Accessed 22 December 2004].

North American Pollinator Protection Campaign. 

2004. NAPPC pollinators page. http://www.nappc.

org/pollinatorEn.html [Accessed 8 December 

2004].

Wildlife Habitat Council. 2003. Pollinator practices. 

http://www.wildlifehc.org/pollinatorpractices/

index.cfm [Accessed 8 December 2004].

The Xerces Society. 2004. Pollinator conservation 

program. http://www.xerces.org/Pollinator_

Insect_Conservation/index.htm [Accessed 8 

December 2004].

Printed sources

Anonymous. n.d. Pollinators in winter. NAPPC 

Pollinator Bulletin 3, North American Pollinator 

Protection Campaign, San Francisco, CA.

Anonymous. n.d. Pollinators need our help! NAPPC 

Pollinator Bulletin 1, North American Pollinator 

Protection Campaign, San Francisco, CA.

Anonymous. 1999. Bats (Order: Chiroptera). Natural 

Resources Conservation Service and Wildlife 

Habitat Council, Fish and Wildlife Habitat 

Management Leaflet Number 5, Silver Spring, MD.

Anonymous. 1999. Ruby-throated Hummingbird 

(Archilochus colubris). Natural Resources 

Conservation Service and Wildlife Habitat 

Council, Fish and Wildlife Habitat Management 

Leaflet Number 14, Silver Spring, MD.

Anonymous. 2000. Butterflies (Order: Lepidoptera). 

Natural Resources Conservation Service and 

Wildlife Habitat Council, Fish and Wildlife Habitat 

Management Leaflet Number 15, Silver Spring, 

MD.

Anonymous. 2002. Pollinator friendly practices. North 

American Pollinator Protection Campaign, San 

Francisco, CA.

Anonymous. 2004. The great pollination partnership 

poster/brochure. North American Pollinator 

Protection Campaign, San Francisco, CA. 

Buchmann, S.L., and G.P. Nabhan. 1996. The forgotten 

pollinators. Island Press, Washington, DC.

Henry, P. 1995. Gardening to attract birds and 

butterflies. Avon Books, New York, NY.

Schneck, M. 1990. Butterflies: how to identify and 

attract them to your garden. Rodale Press, 

Emmaus, PA.

Shepherd, M., S.L. Buchmann, M. Vaughan, and S.H. 

Black. 2003. Pollinator conservation handbook. 

Xerces Society, Portland, OR and The Bee Works, 

Tucson, AZ.

Stokes, D., and L. Stokes. 1989. The hummingbird 

book: the complete guide to attracting, 

identifying, and enjoying hummingbirds. Little, 

Brown and Company, Boston, MA.

Stubbs, C.S., and N. Coverstone. 2004. Understanding 

native bees, the great pollinators. Habitats: A 

Fact Sheet on Managing Lands for Wildlife, 

Bulletin #7153, University of Maine Cooperative 

Extension, ME.

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Native Pollinators

Vaughan, M., M. Shepherd, C. Kremen, and S.H. Black. 

2004. Farming for bees: guidelines for providing 

native bee habitat on farms. The Xerces Society, 

Portland, OR. Available at http://www.xerces.

org/Pollinator_Insect_Conservation/Farm_

Pollinator_Guidelines.PDF .

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Native Pollinators

Natural Resources Conservation Wildlife Habitat Council

Service 8737 Colesville Road, Suite 800

Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

Check your local telephone directory for (301) 588-8994

a field office near you.

The mission of the Wildlife Habitat Council 

The Natural Resources Conservation is to increase the amount of quality 

Service provides leadership in a wildlife habitat on corporate, private, and 

partnership effort to help people public land. WHC engages corporations, 

conserve, maintain, and improve our public agencies, and private, non-profit 

natural resources and environment. organizations on a voluntary basis for the 

recovery, development, and preservation of 

wildlife habitat worldwide.

www.nrcs.usda.gov www.wildlifehc.org

Primary author: Raissa Marks, Wildlife Habitat Council. Drafts reviewed by: Rob Pauline, Wildlife Habitat 

Council; Marcia Maslonek, Wildlife Habitat Council; Charlie Rewa, Natural Resources Conservation Service; 

Kimberly Winter, North American Pollinator Protection Campaign; Constance S. Stubbs, University of 

Maine; Matthew Shepherd, The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation; Doug Holy, Natural Resources 

Conservation Service; and Stephen Buchmann, The Bee Works.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities 

on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, 

and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Person with disabilities who require alternate means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should 

contact the USDAs TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th 

and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an 

equal opportunity provider and employer.

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