The food we eat, the medicine we take, and many of the clothes we wear depend on the health of plants and their pollinators. Yet wild populations of many pollinators are declining, for reasons not well understood.
At the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, our researchers are working hard to unravel the critical science of these partners in evolution. It's part of our commitment to understanding the natural world and our place in it.
You don't have to be an expert to help!
- Grow a Butterfly Garden. Plant a variety of host and nectar plants to support caterpillars and butterflies. Milkweed, spicebush, and sweet gum are good options, but investigate your climate zone to see which native plants are best suited for your backyard.
- Bee-come a Citizen Scientist. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History recently digitized its historic collection of bumble bees. Each one provides evidence that may help reveal what’s happening to these pollinators and our changing planet. Become a digital citizen scientist and transcribe the specimen labels, so that scientists and the public alike can search for answers.
- Build a Bat House. In addition to consuming insects, bats are important pollinators in tropical and desert climates. Agave, which gives us tequila, is just one plant that relies on bats for reproduction. Wherever you live, consider how you can make your local bats feel more at home.
In countless ways, our lives depend on the health of the planet’s biodiversity.
Affirm your passion for the natural world by pledging to aid the struggling pollinators, in your backyard and beyond. We'll follow up with more information on ways you can help!
image credit: By Ly Washu (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0] Monarch (Danaus plexippus) 
