The folks at Colorado State University are recognizing National Pollinator Week with a series of reports and resources for producers. Noting there are more than 20,000 wild pollinators ranging from wild bees to managed honeybees as well as butterflies, flies, moths, wasps, beetles, birds, bats and other animals, it's a hot topic.

In Colorado alone, several ag industries rely on pollinators including the Palisade peaches and Rocky Ford cantaloupes. The challenge ahead is maintaining the health of that pollinator population, which appears to be increasingly under stress from a variety of factors. Several factors have been identified including:

PROTECTING POLLINATORS: A few simple management approaches can make a big difference in the population of valuable pollinators. (Photo: nicholashan/Thinkstock)

• Proper management and control of infectious pests and diseases in honey bee populations

• Loss of habitat and habitat diversity due to increased urbanization

• Improper use of pesticides toxic to pollinators

• Lack of genetic diversity in managed bee populations

One tactic getting widespread attention is the use of pollinator-friendly plantings to boost available food and help the population to thrive. CSU offers a range of resources to check out:

• Low Water Native Plants for Colorado Gardens:  Front Range and Foothills. Colorado Native Plant Society.  conps.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/NativeGarden-Front-Range-4-11-2016.pdf

• Attracting Butterflies to the Garden, Colorado State University Extension  extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/attracting-butterflies-to-the-garden-5-504-2/#top

• “Gardening for Pollinators in Utah and Beyond”   Utah State University Extension www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/documents/plants-pollinators09.pdf

Managing pesticides

Pesticides are a key concern when it comes to protecting pollinators and CSU has advice and resources for you to check out there too:

• Always consider alternatives to pesticides, first.  Use integrated solutions to manage a plant problem.   http://www.colostate.edu/Dept/CoopExt/4dmg/PHC/10steps.htm

• Choose the least toxic pesticides whenever possible. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/ptlk/1427.html

• Avoid applying all pesticides including insecticides and fungicides during bloom on ornamental plants that attract pollinators such as roses, lavender, crabapples, and linden.  Apply pesticides after flower petals have fallen.

• If you do apply a pesticide to plants that are attractive to pollinators, spray at dusk when bees and other pollinators are not active. 

Additional Resources

• Protecting Pollinators: Part 1  Follow Thoughtful Landscape Management Guidelines

• Low Water Native Plants for Colorado Gardens:  Front Range and Foothills. Colorado Native Plant Society.  https://conps.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/NativeGarden-Front-Range-4-11-2016.pdf

• Attracting Butterflies to the Garden, Colorado State University Extension  http://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/attracting-butterflies-to-the-garden-5-504-2/#top

• “Gardening for Pollinators in Utah and Beyond”   Utah State University Extension http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/documents/plants-pollinators09.pdf

Source: Colorado State University