More Information About Pollinators
Pollinators are animals that collect nectar and pollen from flowers and facilitate the transfer of pollen from the anther to the receptive area of a flower. This pollen transfer enables seed plants to reproduce. Pollinators include birds, bees, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, bats and some other mammals. In the United States, the pollinators which we depend on for the majority of our pollination services are bees, including the non-native European honeybee and over 4,000 species of native bees. Evidence of population declines of bees, not only in the United States, but around the world, has prompted scientists to encourage changes in ecosystem management. Pollinators are a reminder that of the 100 crop species providing 90 percent of the world's food, over 70 are pollinated by bees. Improving existing and providing new habitat for pollinators has become a major focus for Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in working with our many partners and private land owners.
