Butterflies and honeybees are important pollinators

A Chinese yellow swallowtail laid her eggs on my lemon tree, and now I have fat little green caterpillars voraciously eating the leaves on their way to becoming beautiful butterflies.

As kids, we would collect caterpillars of the monarch butterfly, and keep them in a jar, faithfully feeding them crown flower leaves on their way to metamorphosis. We felt so blessed to watch their first flight.

As an adult, I still keep them in a jar, now wanting to protect them on their journey. Worldwide, our pollinators are in trouble.

Bees, like butterflies, play a significant role as pollinators. We have all encountered bees, one way or another. Usually our memories of the honeybee included a sting as we played barefoot on the grass.

Contrary to these encounters, honeybees are very gentle creatures that generally mind their own business. They are too busy to worry about people or other animals.

Their work is critical. Honeybees are perhaps the most important insect pollinator for agriculture in the world.

Imagine a world without coffee or chocolate. More than one in every three bites of food we eat or beverages we drink are created directly because of pollinators.

The sudden decline of bee populations locally have made us much more aware of the importance of insect pollinators.

In June the White House made pollinator conservation a national initiative. A presidential memorandum requires federal agencies to take action to reverse pollinator losses and restore pollinator populations.

In Hawaii, we can each contribute to the health of pollinators in our gardens. Following a few simple tips at home can result in big improvements:

» Use a variety of plants. This ensures that there will always be something in bloom — providing food for pollinators.

» Choose plants that are not susceptible to pests to reduce the need for pesticides.

» Select the least-toxic pesticide for your problem. Diluted soap applications can be effective.

» Plant species in clumps. Pollinators are attracted to large floral displays.

» Become familiar with bee-friendly plant species. Mint, sage, rosemary and thyme attract pollinators. Native plants like the ohia lehua, naupaka and ilima are hardy and work well in our urban landscape.

» Avoid modern "hybrid doubles," which tend to have less pollen and nectar that their counterparts. Short corolla flowers and daisy-type flowers are easily accessible to bees and pollinating flies.

So now my garden still blooms with herbs, such as basil and cilantro, but I dedicate some space for flowers for my pollinator friends.

Pamela Hinsdale is a certified UH Master Gardener and a backyard bee enthusiast. Visit the UH Master Gardeners at www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/UHMG or call 453-6055 from 9 a.m. to noon Mondays through Fridays.