Who are our Pollinators?

​Did you know bees are not the only pollinators in Indiana? Approximately 200,000 invertebrate species (bees, moths, butterflies, beetles, and flies) serve as pollinators, as well as about 1,000 species of vertebrates (birds, mammals, and reptiles), according to Pollinator Partnership. The services provided by native pollinators contribute to the productivity of crops as well as to the survival and reproduction of many native plants.

​So how can you get started planting for pollinators? Create a list of your favorite pollinators and pair them with their preferred food sources. We created a short list below to help you get started!

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

If you love the Hummingbird Clearwing Moth Hemaris thysbe, plant twilight blooming flowers like Common Evening Primrose Oenothera biennis and Viburnum spp. Their larvae feed on Viburnum and the adults sip the nectar

Black Swallowtail Butterfly

If you love Black Swallowtail Butterfly Papilio polyxenes, plant Golden Alexander Zizia aurea. Their larvae feed exclusively on plants in the carrot Apiaceae family. If you have a hard time finding Golden Alexander, you can plant dill, fennel, or parsley.

Little Brown Bat

If you love bats like Little Brown Bat, Myotis lucifugus, plant Button Bush Cephalanthus occidentalis or Black-eyed Susan Rudebeckia fulgida. Look for flowers that bloom or stay open throughout the night. These flowers will attract insects, like moths, that bats rely on for their food source.

Monarch Butterflies

If you love Monarch Butterflies Danaus plexippus, plant any of our native milkweeds. To stand out in a sea of Common Milkweed, add Whorled Milkweed Asclepias verticillate to your garden. We have six native milkweeds to choose from in Indiana.

Before you purchase any of these plants, make sure they were not sprayed by the grower or nursery with insecticides of any kind. If you don’t know, ask and follow “trust but verify” by reaching out to grower directly when possible. ​