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Pollinators Near You
Who is doing the pollinating in your neighborhood? Enter a zip code to see the bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, hover flies, and sphinx moths people have photographed nearby in the last 90 days.
Bees
Bumble bees, sweat bees, mason bees, carpenter bees, honey bees. New York has more than 400 native bee species.
Butterflies
Swallowtails, monarchs, skippers, and more. Each needs a specific native host plant as a caterpillar.
Hummingbirds
On Long Island that means the ruby-throated hummingbird, here from late April to early October.
Hover flies
Bee mimics whose larvae eat aphids. Second only to bees as pollinators.
Sphinx and hummingbird moths
Day-flying clearwings and night-flying hawk moths that pollinate phlox, bee balm, and evening primrose.
Then plant for them
The Native Plant Finder matches plants to the pollinators you want and the conditions you have.
FAQ
About pollinators
- How many kinds of bees live on Long Island?
- New York State has more than 400 native bee species, and a good Long Island yard can host several dozen: bumble bees, sweat bees, mining bees, mason bees, leafcutter bees, carpenter bees, and many tiny species most people never notice. The honey bee is not native; it was brought from Europe.
- Why are hover flies listed as pollinators?
- Hover flies (family Syrphidae) are the second most important group of pollinators after bees. Many mimic bees or wasps but cannot sting. Their larvae eat aphids, so they are doubly useful in a garden.
- What is the single best plant for pollinators?
- In side-by-side trials in the Northeast, clustered mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) consistently attracts the most species and individuals. For a whole season, plant a sequence: spring blueberry and phlox, summer coneflower, milkweed and mountain mint, and fall goldenrod and asters.
- Do pesticides sold as bee-safe actually harm pollinators?
- Many do. Neonicotinoids are systemic and end up in nectar and pollen; even organic insecticides like pyrethrin and spinosad kill bees on contact. A pollinator garden should not be sprayed with anything. Chewed leaves mean it is working.