It starts with one
Have you seen your first Monarch butterfly of the year? What about our native bumble bees (Bombus)? As temperatures climb and summer’s warmth falls upon us, the arrival of pollinating insects (and birds!) is undeniable.
As I write this, I reflect on the first Monarch visitor here at Westport Woods, which we observed earlier this week. We are only two weeks behind the first sighting in Bristol County, as noted on iNaturalist. However, we’ve been watching moths, pollinating flies, and several species of bees since the first Witch Hazel blooms in March. All of these pollinators, from the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail to the Bronzed Cutworm Moth, are doing an important job and building foundational blocks in a healthy ecosystem both in their pollinating and as food for birds, reptiles, and mammals.
We’re also seeing avian pollinators, like Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. You may hear these before you see them–listen for their tell-tale “zipping” sounds. These amazing little creatures reach their northern range mid-May, so by now you may be able spot them in your garden on those red, pink, yellow and orange blooms.
Pollinating At All Hours
Moths, meanwhile, are pollinating day and night. You may not see them, but fascinating insects like the White-lined Sphinx moth are “as busy as bees,” even when the sun goes down. Indeed, these (and other Sphingidae species of moth) tend to appear later in the evening, and sometimes well after the sun goes down. While our charismatic daytime pollinators may catch our attention, these nocturnal visitors are equally as important! Next time you are taking a moonlit stroll, see what kind of moths might be contributing in their own way to the health of the food web that we all rely on.
Pollinators in Your Yard
That first Monarch sighting in Bristol County was quite a fortuitous one, as its visit coincided with the first Monarch egg sighting of the season in that same observation. With the array of pollinators here at Kirby house and in the grasslands beyond, WLCT hopes to contribute to the life cycle of these wonderful creatures. Take a look at (and under) the leaves of our many milkweed plants, keeping a careful eye out for that next generation of Monarchs, and consider how important these insects are to our healthy and diverse ecosystem!
Stop in the Learning Center and we can let you know the pollinators we’ve been seeing, and where to find them (or their eggs). We’ll help you spot them here, so you can find them on your next walk, even in your own backyard.
In addition, we have plenty of interesting programs coming up to learn about these and other insects.
- Build Your Own Bug Hotel, June 11th at 4:30
- Mythbusting Bees, June 16th at 4:30
- Bug Hunt: Creepy Crawlies in Your Backyard, June 17th at 4:30
- July programs include a citizen scientists walk and our annual Hunt for Dragonflies.
All upcoming programs can be found on our website: WestportLandTrust.org/upcoming-events