Helpful Garden Pollinators
Barbara Pleasant
According to the
National
Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, the following
native bees are particularly good pollinators of certain crops,
although they pollinate other flowering plants, as well:
- Alkali bees: onions, clover, mint and celery
- Bumblebees: blueberries, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers,
melons, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and
cranberries
- Carpenter bees: passionfruit, blackberries, canola,
corn, peppers and beans
- Leafcutter bees: legumes, especially alfalfa, and
carrots
- Mason bees: almonds, apples, cherries, pears, plums and
blueberries
- Shaggy fuzzyfoot bees: blueberries and apples
- Squash bees: squash, gourds and pumpkins
