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Selecting pollinator habitat locations wisely

An entomologist says farmers should limit the use of pesticides in areas where they have created pollinator habitats.

Christian Krupke, with Purdue University, says a recent study tracked which sources of pollen honeybees use throughout the season.  “This idea of having pollinator strips or areas of forage besides agricultural fields might not be the best approach.”

He says farmers should consider where pollinator habitats should be located before they are established.  “The last thing we want to do is create something that could be considered a trap crop where we have a field that’s treated with pesticides and right beside it have a bunch of attractive flowers.  In the case of a water soluble pesticide like a neonicotinoids, we know that those plants can pick up that pesticide with their roots and then express it in the pollen.”

He says inviting honeybees and other beneficial insects into an area where pesticides are used is not the best idea.  “You need to restrict the pesticide use, especially insecticides use, and make it zero if possible—insecticides are not selective.”

Krupke says more research needs to be done, but both farmers and homeowners using pesticides are impacting native pollinators.

AUDIO: Interview by Brownfield’s Meghan Grebner with Christian Krupke