Identify and help native bees in your garden

bumble bee on goldenrod by Stofko
Bumble bees like this, from the genus Bombus, are more effective than honey bees at pollinating crops such as tomatoes, according to Wild Bee ID. Photo by Connie Oswald Stofko

Did you know that the native bumble bee is more effective than honey bees at pollinating crops such as tomatoes?

That’s just one reason gardeners should care about native bees, according to the Wild Bee ID.

Another reason gardeners should care about native bees is that pollinator populations have been declining at alarming rates all across the continent, primarily due to habitat loss and pesticide poisoning. 

The makers of the Wild Bee ID app hope that gardeners in North America will use it to actively participate in the conservation of bees by creating new habitat for these vital pollinators.

You can use Wild Bee ID to identify the bees that are native in your own backyard, find out which plants they’re best suited to pollinate, and plan your garden accordingly.

Wild Bee ID is a project of Center for Food Safety, a national non-profit public interest and environmental advocacy organization.

2 Comments on “Identify and help native bees in your garden

  1. I planted a cherry tree from a seed. Its now about 8ft. tall and been growing for almost 5 yrs. now. It’s only one single cherry tree in our backyard and growing beside a lineup of raspberriescand one blueberry bush. Will it bear fruit one day and if so how long before it does?
    I appreciate an advise or an input. Thank you!

    Lori

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