Pollinator Habitat

The importance of pollination!

Pollinators provide many services and are critical to our ecosystem. Not only do they beautify gardens and landscapes, but pollinators are vital for successful seed and crop production for the majority of our fruits and vegetables. Pollinators are also essential for many plants and trees.

Insects, birds, and small mammals all contribute to reproduction of wildflowers, crops, shrubs, and trees. In turn, plants and trees are essential for air quality, wildlife habitat, and erosioncontrol that protect our waterways.

Gwinnett Parks & Recreation, UGA Extension Gwinnett, Master Gardener volunteers, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources are working together to encourage native wildflower growth, provide critical habitats, promote plant pollination, and increase native wildlife populations.

What's a Pollinator?

Pollinators are any animals (insects, bats, small mammals, birds, etc.) that transfer pollen around; this results in fertilization of the plant or tree which produces seeds, fruit, vegetables, and additional plants. Pollinators can move pollen within a single plant, from the stamen to the stigma, resulting in fertilization or they can transfer pollen between plants. Bees and wasps actually consume both nectar and pollen.

The Different Types of Pollinators

Find and identify helpful insects and pollinators in your own garden or when you’re visiting Gwinnett’s parks.

Pollinator Identification Guide (PDF).

Bees
- Native Solitary Bees
- Bumblebee
- Carpenter Bees
- Honey Bees
- Leafcutter Bees
- Mason Bees
- Sweat Bees
Beetles
Birds & Bats
Butterflies & Moths
Flies
Wasps

Help Save the Bees

Pollinators are in trouble, population and diversity numbers are decreasing. Scientists are working hard to understand all the reasons for this decline, in the meantime, Gwinnett Parks are helping by planting more and more acreage of pollinator habitats each year. Here are some simple ways that you can help too!

Grow Pollinator Habitats

The easiest and best way to attract pollinators is to plant a variety of trees, plants, shrubs, and flowers in the landscape that bloom throughout the year. Keeping plant choices diverse not only helps provide pollen, but also food, shelter, and nesting to resident pollinators and to those migrating through the area.

What’s best to plant?

Choose a variety so that there will be blooms for pollinators in the winter, spring, summer, and fall.
Below are a few choices:

Flowering trees	Shrubs	Perennials & Annuals
• Dogwood	• Hydrangea	• Chrysanthemum
• Magnolia	• Viburnum	• Coneflower
• Serviceberry	• Spicebush	• Black-eyed Susan
• Redbud	• Bottlebrush Buckeye	• Bee Balm
• Poplar	• Azalea	• Blazing star
• Willow	• Abelia	• Milkweed
• Catalpa	• Witch Hazel	• Honeysuckle
• Birch	• Butterfly Bush	• Daisy
• Apple	• Lantana	• Sunflower
• Pear	• Leatherleaf Mahonia	• Phlox
• Plum	• Paperbush	• Crimson Clover

Avoid Pesticides and Herbicides

Pesticides and insecticides don’t know the difference between good and bad insect species. Bees, butterflies, and other insects are some our most important pollinators; using pesticides/insecticides will kill these insects. Herbicides will kill important native plants that pollinators depend on for food, shelter, and nesting.

Build Insect Hotels

Many native insects lay their eggs in above-ground cavities such as rotting logs, hollow stems, and plan debris. Unfortunately, most of these are cleaned up before the insects hibernate or lay their eggs. Building an insect hotel not only provides shelter and nesting locations for native insects, but can also be an attractive addition to your landscape!

Volunteer – Help us grow!

Volunteer to assist with research through annual pollinator census conducted by GSEPC.org or give a helping hand with planting pollinator gardens in your parks!

For a list of projects and to sign up visit VolunteerGwinnett.net