Our Mission
To engage and educate the UMass and Western Massachusetts community in support of wild pollinator conservation, and to celebrate their essential role in the health of our environment.
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What are wild pollinators?
While many of us are most familiar with the non-native European Honey Bee, Massachusetts is home to many species of wild pollinating insects, including bees, butterflies, moths, wasps, flies, and beetles. For example, Massachusetts has an estimated 400 bee species, making them some of our most critically important pollinators. Wild bee species look very different than the European Honey Bee! They range in size from an inch to smaller than a grain of rice, and in color from green to red, yellow, brown, and even blue. These wild pollinators need our support and protection.
Why should I care about pollinator conservation at UMass? Because pollinators provide us with food, beauty, clean air, fresh water, and healthy soils.
- Globally, over three-quarters of flowering plants are insect-pollinated, including many of our most nutritious crops.
- By supporting plant communities on our campus, wild pollinators also help provide us with healthy soils, clean air, and clean water.
- In contrast to the non-native European Honey Bee, most wild pollinator species have co-evolved with plants native to Massachusetts, making many of them uniquely effective and important pollinators.
Are bees and other pollinators in trouble?
Unfortunately, many pollinator species are in decline because of human threats such as habitat loss, climate change, pesticides, and diseases. Here in Massachusetts, 46 species of butterflies and moths and five species of bees are on the state list of greatest conservation needs. This list documents vulnerable and declining species in the state, including species of bumble bees documented on campus. Providing favorable habitats for wild bees and other insect pollinators, and educating the public about the necessity of pollinators is of increasing importance.
How can you support declining insect pollinators? Learn eight simple steps you can take to help threatened pollinators and other declining insects.