“Pollinators Weave Connections” is the theme of this year’s Pollinator Week, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is sharing five things people can do to support wildlife. This week is observed to highlight the role of insects, especially bees, moths, and butterflies, as well as ruby-throated hummingbirds in the environment around us.

The five things people can do are:
1 – Plant native plants as many pollinator species can only eat from one species of plant. By having a diversity of native plants in a community, it supports a variety of native pollinators.

2 – Add water to your yard, an example would be adding some rocks to a bird bath to create shallower areas where insects can access water.

3 – Use the right lighting as light can be harmful to pollinators at night. Turn off unnecessary lights, use timers or dimmers, consider motion sensors, and try using warm colored light so as to not disturb pollinators at night.

4 – Reduce hazards to wildlife. The DNR suggests trying to eliminate or reduce the use of insecticides. If using them, do so in the most targeted way possible, as the insecticides can harm insects like Monarch butterflies and luna moths.

5 – Embrace wildness. What people may see as messy, pollinators and wildlife at-large may find beneficial. Standing dead vegetation and leaf litter for example, create refuges for pollinators. 

Pollinator week is led by Pollinator Partnership.