Reposted here with permission from the Pollinator Partnership Canada
Article by Anthony Colangelo, Communications Coordinator at Pollinator Partnership Canada
As the summer season ends and the cooler weather approaches, once magnificent and colourful flowers begin to wither and wilt, while previously buzzing gardens become stems of silence. But where do the pollinators go? Pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and birds all display a variety of amazing and unique strategies in order to survive the cold weather and overcome the harsh climate of the approaching winter.
Bumble bees take a different approach, and only new queens survive the winter, while the rest of the colony dies off. In the fall, male bumble bees mate with future queens from different colonies, and these future queens spend the entire winter underground or in holes in soft wood that are safe and dry. Queen bumble bees are impressively large in size, and must consume as much nectar and pollen as possible in order to build up crucial fat reserves before entering a dormant phase in overwintering sites. In the following spring, queens will emerge and find perfect nesting sites to start brand new colonies of their own!
For native solitary bees, it is common for females to lay eggs in underground nests (mining bees, sweat bees, polyester bees), or in sealed and insulated cavities aboveground (leafcutting bees, mason bees). These eggs then hatch and survive the winter as dormant adults waiting to emerge in the spring, or as developing pupae kept safe and warm inside nests. Once the weather is warm enough, emerged females will find their own independent nesting sites and lay the next generation of eggs!
Whether it be migrating to warmer areas or staying dormant in a safe spot, bees, butterflies, and birds are all pollinators that have adapted incredible strategies to survive the harsh and cold temperatures of winter. These strategies also emphasize the need for more pollinator habitat and pollinator-friendly gardens, as having an abundance of accessible pollen and nectar sources, especially in the fall, is crucial for their survival over the winter season. To help pollinators in your area survive next winter, check out our ecoregional guides for native flowers to plant in your area!