What are pollinators and why are they important?

Monarch butterfly on purple coneflower, Jim Hudgins/USFWS, Public Domain

Pollinators are insects or animals, including bees, butterflies, beetles, bats, birds, and moths, that help the process of pollination occur. Pollination is how plants make seeds and fruits so they can grow new plants. It happens when pollen moves from one flower to another and is an essential step in the reproductive cycle of flowering plants. The fruits, vegetables, and grains that we eat - as well as the flowers and trees in our neighborhoods, all need to be pollinated to grow. 

Many pollinators can only pollinate specific native species, such as monarch butterflies and milkweed. Many invasive and non-native species cannot provide the foods that are required by the pollinators. This is becoming a critical issue as invasive species take over and pesticide use, which kills pollinators, becomes more prevalent. There is an increase in disease and parasites within pollinator colonies due to the spread of non-native parasites and diseases. Moreover, habitat destruction has made it harder for pollinator species to thrive, creating an alarming decline in their populations. This is leading to a loss in biodiversity, which in turn negatively impacts the ecosystem. 

Little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus), Troy Gipps/Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Some Rights Reserved

Planting native species instead of non-natives can help pollinator populations as it gives them more habitat, food sources, and requires fewer damaging pesticides to be used to maintain. Providing areas for pollinators to nest, such as small patches of well drained bare soil for native bees, as well as providing a small dish of water for pollinators to drink from can also help them thrive. Leaving fallen leaves on the ground each autumn provides food and shelter for pollinators in the winter, giving them more opportunities to succeed.  

If you would like more information on pollinators, the websites below were used to write this article, as well as the article “The Promise of Pollinators” by Chloe Koval in the Nature Center at Greenburgh’s 2025 Spring Newsletter.

Pollinators in Trouble (National Park Service)

Helping in Your Backyard (National Park Service)

How you can help pollinators (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)

Author Helen Kupershlak is a senior at Dobbs Ferry High School and an intern for Friends of the Dobbs Ferry Waterfront Park