Bee dusted in pollen (Terry W. Johnson)

By Terry W. Johnson

More Georgians are trying to encourage pollinators and other beneficial insects in their yards than ever before. Most of these efforts focus on planting a wide range of native and even ornamental plants that provide nectar and pollen for pollinators and some of which also serve as host plants for butterflies and moths.

Yet, while this is undoubtedly yielding great success, much less is being done to bolster native bees and other beneficial insects. One important habitat requirement that deserves more attention is providing these important members of the insect community with overwintering and nesting sites. That’s something most homeowners seldom do, and it’s a shame, because meeting these needs is actually quite easy.

There are many reasons why this work goes undone. For example, when we think about pollinators, butterflies and non-native honeybees immediately come to mind. Most backyard gardeners do not realize that other insects are also important to the natural world and us. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, native bees – remember, honeybees are not native to North America – pollinate 80 percent of all the native flowering plant species rooted in North America. Native bees also play a key role in the pollination of approximately one-third of our food crops, ranging from peaches to watermelons. This work is accomplished by something like 4,000 native bees flying about the continent. Georgia has more than 500 species of native bees.

In addition, most traditional gardening activities end once Jack Frost makes his first visit to the state. After that, we direct our efforts toward tidying up our yards and gardens by cutting down dead plants, raking up fallen leaves and removing dead limbs and branches. We now realize that, as far as many native pollinators and other insects are concerned, these activities can do them more harm than good. 

Take the firefly: These magical beetles actually spend 95 percent of their lives as larva gobbling up slugs, soft-bodied insects and snails. During this period of their lives, they inhabit rotting logs and leaf litter. When that habitat is lost, the fireflies’ magical summer light shows are extinguished.

The ladybug is another beneficial insect that winters in woodpiles and beneath rotting logs. Fallen leaves also serve as home for a number of butterflies and moths. Some of these showy moths overwinter in cocoons blanketed by fallen leaves. For example, one of our favorite day-flying moths, the snowberry clearwing (often called the small hummingbird moth), winters in the leaf litter beneath coral honeysuckle vines.

Another example, adult mourning cloak butterflies often spend the winter in woodpiles and under tree bark. Red-banded hairstreaks lay their eggs in fallen leaves beneath wax myrtle and sumac plants. In addition, their young overwinter as caterpillars there, waiting for spring to develop into adults.
One of the best ways to create this needed habitat is to leave the fallen leaves that cover your garden in place throughout the winter. Or, since a heavy blanket of leaves can smother grass lawns, gather them using a rake or leaf blower. Do not mulch them.
Use pruned and fallen branches to create brush piles. The best such piles are not tightly packed. This can be achieved by placing the largest branches on the bottom of the pile. This permits pollinators, birds and other wild animals to find shelter inside the piles. The same is true for piles of logs. 

Dead limbs and rotting logs create super habitats for a host of native bees. Some even build their nests in rotting logs. The dryer limbs can be used by overwintering butterflies and moths. Songbirds will also feed within the piles and use them as shelter on cold winter nights.

In addition, you can “plant” logs at various places around your yard. Hardwood logs will last longer than pine or other softwood logs. Simply bury one end of a short log a few inches into the ground. This will help the log retain moisture. Once you do so, it will not take long for long-horned and bark beetles and other insects to move in.
If you are worried your neighbors will consider a brush or woodpile an eyesore, place it in an out-of-the-way location such as in the back corner of your property or behind shrubs.

At the end of the growing season, you can create habitat for stem-nesting bees by not cutting flower stalks down. Instead, leave them standing throughout the winter. If the dead stems do not contain heads full of seeds, cut them back to varying heights. Female bees will use the open stems to deposit their eggs and balls of pollen needed by her young when they hatch. Some bees will also overwinter in the hollow stems. 

In the spring, you will know when bees are using the stalks as nesting sites because the females will plug them with mud, rosin, bits of leaves and even pebbles.

Shrubs with pithy centers can be pruned throughout the winter. However, try to cut stems of varying diameters to accommodate bees of different sizes.

As for seed heads that retain seeds, don’t them off until birds have devoured all of the seeds. For example, nipping off the seed heads of coneflowers will deprive American goldfinches of the sharp seeds they relish. 

As you can see, how you treat fallen leaves, branches, and limbs in the fall can benefit a diverse suite of valuable insects. The techniques described here are perfect for folks like me who do not especially enjoy pruning dead plants and raking dead leaves. Perhaps they will appeal to you, too. It is ironic that we can often benefit our wildlife neighbors by what we don’t do.

Terry W. Johnson is a retired Nongame program manager with the Wildlife Resources Division and executive director of The Environmental Resources Network, or TERN, friends group of the division’s Nongame Conservation Section. (Permission is required to reprint this column.) Learn more about TERN, see previous “Out My Backdoor” columns, read Terry’s Backyard Wildlife Connection blog and check out his latest book, “A Journey of Discovery: Monroe County Outdoors.”