Why it is important to provide water for beneficial insects.
· Pollinators need sources of water for many purposes including drinking and reproduction.
· Foraging honeybees collect water to dilute honey, regulate humidity, and cool the hive.
· Butterflies get salts and nutrients from water and mud puddles.
· Mud puddles can provide nesting holes for many insects.
Ways we can provide water in our gardens for these insects.
· This can be as easy as adding a bird bath or puddling area for butterflies or is complex as a water feature.
· There are many variations that can be great projects for kids.
Why shelters are important.
· Pollinators use shelters to nest, which will protect developing larvae.
· Winter conditions can be extreme, so pollinator insects use shelters like Dead wood, rock piles, leftover perennials, and grasses, for overwintering.
