Many varieties of trees and shrubs depend on pollinators to reproduce, such as apple, pear, plum and cherry trees. Insect pollinators include bees, butterflies, beetles, moths, flies and wasps. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources we have about 400 native wild bee species.
Some examples of trees that are pollinated by insects include:
- Eastern Redbuds, Nannyberry and Gray Dogwoods
Pollinated by bees, wasps, butterflies, beetles and flies. - Pagoda Dogwoods
Pollinated by bees, wasps, beetles and flies. - Serviceberry
Pollinated by bees, beetles and flies. - Crabapple
Pollinated by bees and flies. - Black Chokecherry
Pollinated by bees, butterflies, moths and flies.
While insects play a critical role in the fitness of our tree and plant species, they are also essential to our backyard birds. Insect eggs, larvae and adults are valuable sources of protein and other nutrients for our backyard birds and their offspring. For information on attracting bees, butterflies and birds to your yard, see Lori Lundeen’s top 10 picks in the May/June 2017 edition of our Bird’s-Eye View Newsletter.
Article by Minnetonka Manager CAROL CHENAULT