Forgotten Pollinators

Colorado’s natural beauty is often directed towards the breathtaking landscapes and mountain vistas found nowhere else. What we can often miss, though, are the unique small beauties in our own backyards. Colorado is home to over 1000 different species of bees, more than any other state in the U.S. and helps keep the landscapes as gorgeous as they are. Colorado’s native bees are best adapted to pollinate our native plants. Many lead solitary lives, like the Pruinose Squash Bee (Xenoglossa pruinosa, formerly Peponapis pruinosa), who specialize in collecting pollen from gourd plants. Some do live in colonies, if only for a season or two, like the Golden Sweat Bee (Augochlorella aurata), with a new reproductive female called a foundress starting her own colony each spring. These busy bees have a metallic green coloration that shimmers an almost golden color in certain light. 

Fluttering around in the daytime and showing off striking colors, many people are captivated by butterflies. Their cousins, the moths, are seen as less exciting and even hated by many folks. But when it comes to pollination, moths have some of the most impressive feats. Many times, they even subvert our expectations! While most moths are nocturnal, some species are active during the day, like this Whitelined Sphinx Moth (Hyles lineata). You’ll spot them hovering around flowers and delicately reaching for nectar with their long proboscis- butterfly/moth mouthparts. When pollinators are active also changes depending on which pollinator is present, and one of the earliest pollinators we see each year in Colorado is the dark-colored Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa). This particular species of butterfly is actually capable of surviving the cold winters as an adult and so can be spotted in spring, fluttering around in search of early blossoms. And while they ensure early blooms get attention, they also offer an early spring insect meal for other animals, too. The circle of life needs the seasonality of diverse ecosystems.  

You’ll learn about these and many of Aurora’s other lesser-known pollinators worth celebrating at Aurora’s Party for Pollinators. Join us for fun activities, volunteer opportunities, and learning for all ages at Aurora’s Water-wise Garden on Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.