admin, Author at

Scorching summers in Central Texas are nothing new. I mean, they’re always hot. But this year we had some next-level heat with temperatures as high as 110, plus humidity, and, of course, no rain for a month straight. So, it wasn’t surprising that both flora and fauna suffered. Only one of my dahlias flowered, one sad little bloom that was at least half a size smaller than it should have been. And the birds ravaged my succulents and Myer lemons–I guess for the moisture, although we have two birdbaths and a pond. But it was the butterfly populations that seemed most affected by the climate.

But that’s one reason to grow native plants, right? They’re better able to adapt to extreme temperatures even when they’re extreme, so that plants and animals have a shot at survival. Even in the extreme heat, I still had my old standby plants to enjoy: sage, milkweed, rock rose, and the annual wildflowers. Nice.

What was sorely missing, though, were the butterflies. Most of the time, I have Monarchs, various swallowtails, fritillaries, sulfurs, etc. all summer long. Not this year. I’m not sure exactly why, but I can make an educated guess that it was because of the heat.

According to the National Wildlife Federation, “Like most butterflies, monarchs are highly sensitive to weather and climate: They depend on environmental cues (temperature in particular) to trigger reproduction, migration, and hibernation.”

Indeed. My neighbor has gotten into raising caterpillars and releasing the butterflies, so early this summer when I found a black swallowtail on some fennel, I gave it to her. Despite the heat, it grew and soon formed its chrysalis. But…it didn’t hatch for over a month until the temperatures cooled off some. Apparently, black swallowtails have been known to go into an extended sort of hibernation when conditions are not right.

Thankfully, though, late September and now October have brought somewhat cooler temperatures along with a little rain, and the butterflies are back. It feels strangely like spring since the summer was so brutal, but now, everything is blooming and colorful and full of the ethereal beauties I love so much.

Monarch butterfly on blue mistflower — Monarch and blue mistflower.

Giant swallowtail butterfly and zinnia — Giant swallowtail and zinnia.

Gulf fritillary and zinnia.

Queen butterflies on blue mistflower. — Queens on blue mistflower.

Giant swallowtail butterfly flying over zinnia — Giant swallowtail and zinnias.

Hackberry emperor on butterfly bush bloom. — Hackberry emperor and butterfly bush.

While you may be familiar with the importance of honey bees for pollination, you may not be as knowledgeable about the importance of native bees. These bees tend to be loners and don’t get the same press that honey bees do.

But wildlife gardening is all about promoting native plant species, animals, and insects, so let’s put them in the spotlight for a second!

First, just for clarification, anything considered native to your area–and that will vary greatly, sometimes even over a few miles–is a plant, insect, or animal that is designed to be there. Specific plants will feed the specific animals and insects that live there, and native species will thrive, not just survive.

What’s the Problem with Honey Bees?

The problem with all the hubbub about honey bees is that honey bees are not from the United States–they were imported from Europe. Honey bees are akin to herd animals, functioning in groups, (I’ve heard them even referred to as livestock) while native bees are generally more solitary. You know what they say, there’s strength in numbers, and honey bees can pose a significant threat to other species when it comes to resources. Think about it. If pollen sources are spare, who is going to get most of it? Those with the bigger numbers.

Additionally, believe it or not, most native bees are better pollinators than honey bees. In an ongoing study by the US Department of Agriculture on native bee species in New York state apple orchards, native bees are “two to three times better” at pollinating. And with the rise of colony collapse disorder, and various pathogens, viruses, and fungi threatening honey bees, that’s great news. Native bees are less likely to suffer from these problems because of their solitary lifestyle.

Unfortunately, it is still possible for honey bees to pass on some diseases, and with more and more people trying to raise bees, the more likely we are to see an increase native bee disease.

How to Support Native Bees

The way to support native bees is similar to supporting the honey variety. Don’t use pesticides or herbicides, plant more wildflowers indigenous to your area, reduce lawns, and provide habitat that is specific your area. For example, mason bees nest in tube shaped nests, either dried stalks or other plant material, or in store-bought bee houses. Some bees nest in the ground, so try to provide some areas of bare dirt.

In Texas alone, there are about 1,500 species of bees! I’ve identified only six varieties in my yard so far, but I’m hopeful that I will see more as time goes on.

To date, I’ve seen:

carpenter bees
digger bees
mason bees
bumble bees
hover flies
sweat bees

While we may not get honey from native bees, they play an important part in pollinating fruits, vegetables, and nuts, and in our ecosystem overall.

For information on native Texas bees, see https://npsot.org/wp/story/2012/2422/

Weather May Affect Monarch Butterfly Reproduction

The Importance of Native Bees

What’s the Problem with Honey Bees?

How to Support Native Bees