Natural History Wanderings

from the Xerces Society

The Xerces Society’s new fact sheet Responding to Insects and Diseases on Landscape Trees and Shrubs is designed to help you protect your woody plants—and the local insect communities they evolved with.   Trees and shrubs support an entire community of wildlifeAs important as they are for us, trees and shrubs in our towns and cities provide much more. They are vital food and shelter for bees, butterflies and other insects. The resources trees and shrubs provide are impressive! Consider this:  by one estimate, a single sugar maple tree produces a hundred billion pollen grains annually, while an oak tree can supply even more. Tree pollen often makes up 25–100% of a bee’s pollen diet, depending on the species. Even wind-pollinated trees like maples and oaks are often visited by bees gathering both nectar and pollen.

Read full article at : Are My Plants Okay? How to Respond To Insects and Diseases in Trees and Shrubs | Xerces Society