Enhancing Pollinator Habitats. at Waste Management Sites

Transcription

1 Enhancing Pollinator Habitats at Waste Management Sites

2 We would like to acknowledge the support of: The City of London GFL Environmental Inc. The Regional Municipality of Niagara The Regional Municipality of Peel Walker Environmental Group Inc. Waste Connections of Canada

3 Contents How do I use this Guide? 1 Getting Started 1 Why Support Pollinators on Waste Management Sites? 2 Understanding the Ecology of Waste Management Sites 4 Create, Maintain, Enhance 5 Create 6 Phase 1: Site Selection 7 Phase 2: Site Preparation 11 Phase 3: Choosing your Pollinator Seed Mix 16 Phase 4: Planting 16 Maintain 19 Year 1: Post Fall Planting 19 Year 2: Spring Clean Up 19 Year 3: Spring Mowing 20 Year 4 and Beyond: Long Term Management 20 Best Management Practices for Maintaining your Pollinator Habitat 21 Enhance 24 Recommendations for Specific Pollinator Species 24 Case Studies 28 Budget Considerations 31

4 Evaluate your Project 32 Monitoring and Research 33 Sharing Success 34 Certification and Recognition 35 Learn about our Pollinators 36 Bees 36 Butterflies and Moths 40 Flies 40 Beetles 41 Bats 41 Hummingbirds 41 Pollinators: Species at Risk 42 Monarch 42 Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee 43 Karner Blue Butterfly 43 Pollinator Plant Lists 44 Resources 50 Basic Pollinator Resources 50 References 54 Final Thoughts 56

5 How do I use this Guide? This guide will help you and other waste management operators create pollinator habitat in both open and closed Ontario landfill sites. Pollinator habitats can come in many shapes and sizes, including: Small-scale pollinator gardens, such as those around maintenance and office buildings; Medium-scale pollinator habitat patches or rows, such as those incorporated in buffer habitats around both active and closed landfills; and, Large natural meadow restoration on closed landfills sites. From site selection to ongoing maintenance and certification, this guide will provide you and your team with the knowledge and advice needed to create healthy and beautiful pollinator habitats. In doing so, you will be providing needed support to pollinators in Ontario. Getting Started In Ontario, landfills and other waste management facilities encompass vast tracts of land that can be ideal for creating and managing pollinator-friendly habitats. The Ontario government estimates that over 17,000 hectares of land (42,000 potential pollinator acres) are associated with the network of landfills managed by various municipalities and private waste management companies in Ontario 1. This estimate may be low because there is limited information available for a large portion of the more-than 2,000 landfills across the province. There are also additional opportunities around other types of waste management sites and facilities. As a single industry, waste management sites provide significant opportunities to restore pollinator habitat and conserve pollinating species. This habitat guide will provide landfill managers, or those responsible for maintaining or enhancing landfills in Ontario, with the most current science, tools, and resources they need to create habitat and support pollinators. From site selection to ongoing maintenance and certification, this guide will provide you and your team with the knowledge and advice needed to create healthy and beautiful pollinator habitats. 1

6 To support healthy populations of pollinators, the single most effective action you can take is to plant native wildflowers. This single course of action, at any scale, will make significant contributions to pollinating species. The applications and extent of creating pollinator habitat may vary between landfill types, budgets, and community interest, but the core steps involved are consistent. This document provides concrete actions to guide your efforts from small pollinator gardens to areas of multiple hectares. Local, site-specific actions add up to significant change. By considering these three simple actions, you can help to support pollinators at landfill sites, and around other waste management facilities. 1. Create natural vegetation and habitats. 2. Maintain habitats using methods that minimize disturbance and harm to pollinators. 3. Enhance habitats using methods that promote pollinator richness and diversity. To support healthy populations of pollinators, the single most effective action you can take is to plant native wildflowers. Why Support Pollinators on Waste Management Sites? Pollinators are a diverse group of organisms (e.g., bees, birds, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, wasps) that visit flowers to feed on pollen and nectar. In the process, pollinators transfer pollen grains and help plants reproduce. This simple action supports productivity in natural and human-altered landscapes. Pollinators play an important role in our economy, providing upwards of 217 billion dollars globally 2,3. In Ontario, alone, honey bees and bumble bees are responsible for 897 million dollars of the roughly 6.7 billion dollars in sales for agricultural crops grown in the province each year. This is equal to about 13% of the province s total annual crop value. The beekeeping industry provides pollination services to farmers that grow apples, peaches, tomatoes, cherries, pears, soybean, and blueberries throughout the province. 2

7 In addition, the demand for honey production is growing and represents a significant portion of Ontario s economy at nearly 400 million dollars. About one third of the food that we eat every day is the direct result of pollination. Beyond their economic value, pollinators support healthy ecosystems that stabilize soils, improve air quality and preserve biodiversity 3. The critical roles that pollinators play in ecosystem health highlight the severity of pollinator declines. Given the essential role that pollinators play in our environment and economy, the recent decline in their numbers has become a cause for great concern. It is believed that many pollinator populations and species are decreasing as a result of habitat loss, disease, climate change and the use of pesticides. Monarch butterflies have seen one of the most drastic population declines, with 90% losses and shrinking overwintering numbers. The decline of these pollinator species is a serious problem is a serious problem that requires concerted action among the private and public sectors to protect Ontario s food system and natural environment. Setting goals to secure habitat for pollinators is an essential part of a pollinator strategy. These flower-visiting organisms are a diverse group with some pollinator species having unique habitat needs. Understanding the unique biology and needs of each pollinator type allows us to more effectively Create, Maintain and Enhance pollinator habitat. Ontario s Pollinator Health Action Plan creates an opportunity for members of the Ontario Waste Management Association to demonstrate strong community leadership while also supporting the Ontario government s intitiatives to strengthen pollinator health. On December 16, 2016, the Government released its pollinator health action plan which is a comprehensive strategy that includes steps to restore and protect one million acres of pollinator habitat in Ontario while providing support for new research on pollinator health related to disease management and the use of neonicotinoid pesticides to treat corn and soybeans. 3

8 Understanding the Ecology of Waste Management Sites The habitat needs of pollinators are simple: they need regular access to natural foraging areas (e.g., flowers that bloom throughout the season) and nesting areas (e.g., accessible soils, native grasses and woody vegetation). There is huge potential to create pollinator-friendly habitat in and around landfills and other resource management landscapes in Ontario. The Ontario government estimates that 17,000 hectares of land (42,000 potential pollinator acres) are associated with the network of landfills stewarded by various municipal and private landfill companies in Ontario 1. This includes: There is huge potential to create pollinator-friendly habitat in and around landfills and other resource management landscapes in Ontario. Active (Operating) Landfills There are over 15,000 ha of open landfill sites in Ontario (OWMA pers. comm.) that includes over 4,000 ha in total waste fill area. These active landfills vary in size and extent. Inactive (Closed) Landfills: Recently Capped There are likely as many or more hectares of closed waste management sites as there are open waste management sites in Ontario (OWMA pers. comm.). Inactive (Closed) Landfills: Historically Capped There are two types of closed landfill types: Recently Capped and Historically Closed. These are differentiated by established vegetation at Historically Closed Landfills, and bare top soil applications at Recently Capped landfills. In Ontario, there are over 1,500 closed landfills, of varying sizes. The number of landfills capped for closure per year varies. 4

9 Create, Maintain, Enhance There are many ways to create pollinator habitat at waste management sites and facilities. Simple efforts can make areas ideal habitat for pollinators. Options available to landfill managers fall within three core strategies: actions that Create, Maintain, and Enhance pollinator habitat at a site. Managers need to understand the role that both small and large-scale sites play in creating benefits at local, regional and even provincial scales. 1. Create foraging habitat by planting native wild flowers. You can plant flowering species on just about any area that gets enough sunlight and water. Incorporating natural vegetation and native flowers is the simplest and most important action you can take. Phases involved with creating habitat include: Site Selection, Site Preparation, Plant/Seed Selection, and Planting. Please see the following sections to learn more about the steps involved with creating habitat for pollinators at your landfill site. 2. Maintain pollinator habitat by using methods that minimize the establishment of unwanted vegetative species. Steps involved with maintenance target reducing plants which has the potential to interfere and outcompete your pollinator plantings. 3. Enhance habitats using methods that promote pollinator richness and diversity. For site managers, there are opportunities to improve pollinator habitat by enhancing vertical structure, providing nesting and overwintering sites, and maintaining access to bare soil in patches that are not covered in grass. In some cases, certification and stewardship programs can provide funding, technical support and guidance. Options available to landfill managers fall within three core strategies: actions that Create, Maintain, and Enhance pollinator habitat at a site. 5

10 Create One of the best things you can do for pollinators is creating habitat by planting native flowers in as many areas as possible. When creating habitat, it is important to consider food and nesting resources. Pollinators depend on nectar and pollen for nutrients and energy and non-compacted soil and woody vegetation for nesting. With pollinator planting projects, it is important that bloom periods coincide with pollinator emergence and activity to sustain both plant and pollinator populations. You can do this by planting native flowers and shrubs that are in bloom from early spring through fall, to ensure continuous nectar and pollen sources. Let the small act of planting flowers be the driver of large scale change. The process for creating wildflower and pollinator-rich habitats consists of four phases and can be applied at both open and closed landfill sites: Phase 1: Site Selection Phase 2: Site Preparation Phase 3: Plant/Seed Selection Phase 4: Planting Techniques 6

11 Phase 1: Site Selection Most native wild flowers, flowering shrubs and grasses need full sunlight to thrive. Choose open sites that receive full sun throughout the day. Level ground is usually best, however gentle slopes are suitable as long as you can control erosion while the roots of your plants are establishing. Consider the use of marginal lands, such as buffer areas surrounding active landfills, maintenance roadsides, and maintenance building gardens, to areas as large as the entire extent of a capped landfill. An added benefit is that deep-rooted native plants used in habitat restoration projects can support other wildlife, improve water infiltration, withstand drought, filter runoff, and store carbon. Know your soil type before you start, and choose varieties of plants that grow well in your region. Soil is also an important consideration when selecting a site. Some wild flowers prefer rich, clay soils, while others prefer dry, sandy and rocky soils. Know your soil type before you start, and choose varieties of plants that grow well in your region (Please refer to the table at the end of this guide for a list of eco-regional pollinator plant lists). If there is concern about soil contamination, you may wish to have a soil tested by a local university or chemical testing and analysis lab, as this may inhibit seed germination. Lastly, keep invasive or unwanted vegetative species in mind when selecting your planting location. If aggressive weed species are present on nearby lands, they may colonize the site through either seed dispersal or the spread of underground rhizomes. Colonizing weeds can present a persistent problem if they are not frequently controlled. Create7

12 Soil Classifications Soil can be separated into three basic groups: Sand, Loam and Clay. While there is considerable variation between these groups, the following three classifications will help you understand where a seed mix will grow, and where it will not. Sandy Soils Dry Nutrient deficient Fast-draining Large sized soil particles that are loose and relatively easy to work with High percentages of air More acidic than loamy and clay soils Clay Soils Heavy Small, tighly packed soil particles that are harder to work with Top four inches dry out in the summer months Higher in nutrients High capacity for holding water Understanding Soils at your Site An important consideration in determining how well your pollinator plantings will grow at your landfill is their suitability with the soil at the site in which they will grow. Wildflowers and native grasses have a range of soil types in which they thrive. A major factor in the success of your pollinator plantings is in their root systems, which collect water and nutrients and holds the plant in place. Native grasses and wildflowers have evolved to prefer different soil types. It is vital to choose your pollinator seed mix that matches the soil at your site. One easy way to determine what soil type you have at your site is to perform a squeeze test : 1. Dig small hole cm deep; 2. Reach in and grab a handful of the soil 3. Squeeze the soil in your hand tightly 4. Open your hand If the soil feel gritty and breaks apart quickly, you likely have sand. If it stays together in a ball and holds well, you likely have clay. If it feels smooth, holds its shape for a short time before breaking apart, then you likely have loam. If you are still uncertain about what soil type(s) you have at your site, consider reaching out to a university, or lab to have your soil tested by an expert. Loamy Soils Fertile Retain water and still provide good drainage Many wildflowers do well in a loam soil base , Dorling Kindersley Limited

13 Site Selection Considerations for your Landfill Type Active Landfills At operating landfills, site selection opportunities to create pollinator habitat exist in buffer areas, along maintenance roads, outside maintenance buildings and corporate office buildings Inactive Landfills: Recently Capped Recently capped landfills provide a great opportunity for large-scale pollinator plantings, with less need for site preparation. They can also lend themselves well to open the space up to public viewing or public access. Public outreach and engagement opportunities are good for getting others involved in supporting pollinator habitat, in addition to building an understanding of environmental leadership in the waste management industry. 9

14 Inactive Landfills: Historically Capped Historically closed landfills are often hydro-seeded with fast growing, non-native seed mixes. While these seed mixes are great at providing soil stabilization, they typically have very few, if any, flowering species, making them essentially food deserts for pollinators as they have so few, if any flowering species. A phased approach to planting is a good option when considering site selection, given there can be significant site preparation and maintenance needs. Public parks and sports fields are also a consideration when selecting a site as they are often close to historically closed landfills. You can increase public awareness of your pollinator leadership by planting close to areas that are visible to the public or near places that people go to play, exercise and relax. Simple interpretive signs explaining your work can also encourage others to take action in creating pollinator habitat! Create 10

15 Phase 2: Site Preparation Before planting/seeding you will need to remove any unwanted vegetation, reduce the amount of weed seed in the soil, remove plant debris, and create a smooth surface to insure good seed-to-soil contact. The importance of knowing your site (e.g., what present vegetation is pollinator-friendly and what is not), and implementing proper site preparation based on this principle, cannot be underestimated. More time preparing the site at this stage will result in greater success and less maintenance time. Step 1: Eliminating Existing Vegetation To start the process of eliminating existing vegetation in the spring, mow the current vegetation as short as possible. Existing vegetation can be removed by using one or a combination of the following six options: Option 1: Solarisation/Smothering For smaller sites, a good option for removing existing vegetation and preventing weed regeneration is to smother the area. This is a simple technique that is effective by preventing light and moisture from reaching the plants and soil. Solarisation or smothering can be implemented by covering the site with black plastic, or a thick layer of leaves. Leave the covering in place for a full growing season in order to kill the existing vegetation. Option 2: Cultivation For larger areas where solarisation or smothering is not possible, implementing a tilling schedule can be an effective method to eliminate existing vegetation. Implementing a tilling schedule must be followed for the entire growing season. A walk-behind rototiller (for small sites), a tractor-mounted rototiller, or farm implements such as a plow, disk, or harrow may be used. Your choice of equipment and whether you choose this option will depend on many factors, including the size of your planned pollinator planting area, the equipment you have access to, and the underlying site characteristics of your site. For example, The importance of knowing your site, and implementing proper site preparation based on this principle, cannot be underestimated. Create11

16 capped landfills may have inadequate soil depth, and the location/proximity of methane wells may limit your ability to till your proposed pollinator habitat area. Consider the following BMPs to guide your cultivation program: Begin cultivation mid-late spring and continue through until fall (before you apply your pollinator seed mix) Cultivate every 2-3 weeks at a depth of cm if possible Do not miss scheduled tilling applications. Cultivating at intervals greater than the proposed 2-3 week frequency may increase weed establishment and density at your site. Option 3: Herbicide Applications The application of herbicide treatments is controversial for some, as their application can negatively impact bees and other pollinators who may already be present on-site. Broad application of herbicides can reduce and eliminate floral food sources that bees and other pollinators depend on. To reduce harmful impacts to pollinators, always consider BMPs when applying herbicides at your site. Class 11 pesticides are bio-pesticides or certain lower risk pesticides that can be applied to remove weeds and unwanted vegetation when other site preparation methods have proven to be ineffective. For a list of Class 11 pesticides that can be used under the Pesticides Act visit the Ontario Government website ( pesticides). For especially challenging site conditions, Class 9 pesticides may also be used by a landscape licensed exterminator to remove weeds and restore/prepare the site for pollinator habitat. In order to do so, the exterminator must apply to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and receive written opinion that the use of Class 9 pesticides is necessary for the benefit of a species of animal native to Ontario, through the establishment, restoration or manage of its habitat. Create 12 For further information or to apply, contact the local MNRF district office offices or MNRF s public contact centre at For maximum efficiency, herbicide treatments should be applied when weeds or unwanted vegetative species are

17 actively growing. If applied when cool season plants are dormant during the heat of the summer, the product will not be transported to the roots of the plant. To begin, mow the area in early spring as stated above to encourage new spring growth. The number of herbicide applications will depend on the product you have chosen. Always read and follow the manufacturer s instructions or hire a professional as improper applications can impact groundwater, surface water and other natural resources. As a rule, herbicides products should be applied three times throughout the season: mid-spring, mid-summer and early fall. This schedule allows the targeted attack of different weed species which peak in activity at different times of the year. When the existing vegetation is clearly all dead, the seedbed can be prepared for planting. Option 4: Combination of cultivation and herbicide applications Using a combination of cultivation and herbicide applications may be the most effective approach to remove existing unwanted weeds and vegetation at your site in preparation for planting your pollinator habitat. Consider the following steps when using a combined approach at your site: 1. Mow the area that you wish to plant in the early spring 2. Immediately spray the area with your herbicide application 3. Three weeks after spraying, cultivate the area (cultivation will encourage weed seeds in the soil to germinate) 4. When the new crop of weeds reach cm in height (typically 2-3 weeks after tilling), apply another herbicide application to the site 5. Repeat tilling/spraying combination 3 more times throughout the season, with the final application in the fall Using a combination of cultivation and herbicide applications may be the most effective approach to remove existing unwanted weeds and vegetation at your site. Option 5: Sod-cutter Areas with existing sod or vegetation can be prepared using a sod-cutter, which removes approximately 7cm of the top Create13

18 Instead of strictly adhering to one type of vegetation maintenance practice, such as routine mowing or broadcast use of herbicides, research has shown that a combination of techniques is best for maintaining a plant community that supports pollinator habitat. soil and vegetation. This method generally creates a nearly weed-free planting area ready for seed installation. After the vegetation is removed, rate or shallow till the area to a depth of no more than 5 cm. Option 6: Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) is a systematic integrated approach to managing vegetation. It applies the right intervention method at the right place and time to control vegetation. IVM uses a four-phase approach to control unwanted vegetation, and is an ideal approach to managing waste management landscapes to promote pollinators. 1. Scout the area identifying and/or mapping the location of unwanted weed plants that are present. 2. Define threshold levels of plant abundances and/ or growth heights based on your management goals, priorities, and abilities. Management thresholds will differ depending on the plant species you encounter, as well as your objectives. For example, decide whether you wish to prevent the plants growth in height, or remove it from the site (as may be the case for certain invasive plant species). 3. Apply control measures to unwanted vegetation. Use as many IVM practices as possible in concert with one another. These could include manual (handing picking), mechanical (mowing), biological, and chemical practices. 4. Evaluate the results. Keep accurate records and adjust the unwanted vegetation management program as needed. You can develop your own IVM approach using Best Management Practices (BMPs) for various maintenance activities to support pollinators. Step 2: Seed Bed Preparation In the fall, when all weed species and unwanted vegetation has been managed, lightly till the area at a very shallow depth (5 cm at most). If the pollinator planting area is small, such as in buffer areas, roadsides, or around office building, level 14

19 the soil with a rake. In larger areas such as capped landfills, a land-leveler is an efficient option. If a rototiller has been used, the machine will have already leveled the site for you. On recently capped, or historically closed landfills with steep slopes, extra precautions to avoid runoff and soil loss should be considered: Active Landfills Buffer lands, roadsides and other small plantings Spring mow existing vegetation as short as possible. Mow a strip of at least 3 meters wide between your planned pollinator habitat and areas with weedy unwanted plant species (to reduce spread to your planted area). Mow this strip every year in late July before the plants go to seed. Rake off debris. Smother the slope using solarisation or apply thick layer of leaves (if possible). In late fall, remove covering and sow the seed directly into the stubble of the dead vegetation. Inactive Landfills: Recently Capped Mow existing vegetation (if any) just prior to seeding (preferably late fall). Sow the seeds on the slope, and then cover the slope with a biodegradable erosion control blanket. If your site is too large to incorporate an erosion control blanket, consider a wildflower & grass seed mix formulated to tolerate poor soils found on steep soils. Rake off debris. Inactive Landfills: Historically Capped Spring mow existing vegetation as short as possible. Throughout late spring and summer used repeated applications of herbicides (as described above). Do not cultivate the slope, sow the seed directly into the stubble of the dead vegetation in late fall. On recently capped, or historically closed landfills with steep slopes, extra precautions to avoid runoff and soil loss should be considered. Create15

20 It is vital to have a continuous source of pollen and nectar at your site throughout the seasons. Create 16 Phase 3: Choosing your Pollinator Seed Mix Different pollinating species are active at different times of the year. It is vital to have a continuous source of pollen and nectar at your site throughout the seasons. In selecting your pollinator seed mix, take the following several points into consideration: Strive for a minimum of three species to be blooming per season. Include at least one native bunch grass or sedge in your seed mix. Grasses and sedges are larval host plants for some butterfly species, and provide nesting and overwintering sites for some native bee species. Seeding rates for wildflowers range from seeds per square foot (however the exact seeding rate can be established through your seed vendor based on your region and budget). Whenever possible, try to purchase seeds from local growers. Locally-sourced plants generally establish and grow well because they are adapted to the local soils, climate, insects and plant diseases in our region. To develop your own pollinator habitat seed mix, use the planting lists provided in this report. For a list of local seed distributors, please refer to the reference section of this document. Phase 4: Planting Once the area you wish to plant with pollinator habitat has undergone proper site preparation, it is time to apply your chosen pollinator seed mix. How seed mixes are applied depends on the size and site characteristics of your site. Active Landfills (less than 1 acre) Mixing the Seed Thoroughly mix pollinator seed mix into inert material such as sawdust or vermiculite. Wet the mix slightly so the seed will stick. This will serve as a carrier for your seeding and will assist you with seeing where you have sown.

21 For every 93 sq meters (500 feet) to be planted, you will need 30 L (8 gallons) of inert material. Use a large container to hold the mixture. Pour the seed and inert material into the container and mix very well. Broadcast Seeding Divide seed into two equal sized portions; Start at one end of your prepared area, walk straight across your site broadcasting half of the seed mixture evenly. After having made one pass across the area, apply the second half of your seed mixture perpendicular to your first pass (for example, broadcast your seed in a north/ south direction for the first pass, then walk an east-west direction for the second pass). Raking Gently rake the seeded area so that the seed is lightly covered with soil (about 1/8 to 1/4 inches deep). Rolling Roll the seeded area with a lawn roller (hand-held or tracker) to ensure good soil to seed contact. If your site is wet, wait until it is dry to avoid compaction. Mulching (optional) Mulch the area with 2.5 cm of clean, weed-free straw (will assist with soil moisture and increase germination). If seeding on a steep slope, the straw can be held in place with jute or plastic mesh. NEVER use field hay as it may contain unwanted plant seeds. Watering (not required if seeding is conducted during the fall) Spring seeding require daily watering for 6-8 weeks after planting. After 8 weeks, water only if it does not rain for full week. Watering in the morning for minutes is ideal. Do not over water, especially on heavy clay soils that are prone to retain moisture. Seeding Options Option 1: Mechanical Tractor Seeding Seed drills can open up the surface soil to seat the seed properly without working the soil just prior to planting. The use of seed drills, while more costly than hydroseeding (see Option 2 below), is an ideal application on landfill sideslopes, as seeds are less susceptible to being washed away by rain like hydroseeding is. The Brillion seeder broadcasts seed rather than drilling it, creating a more natural effect (no rows). The Brillion seeder needs a well-prepared seedbed with loose surface soil to plant the seed properly. Option 2: Hydroseeding Hydroseeding uses a slurry of water, seed, and paper mulch sprayed on the surface of the soil to plant seeds. Option 3: TerraSeeding TerraSeeding incorporates seed into composted soil during application. This method of sowing wildflowers and native grasses has been successful in Ontario, but can be a more costly approach to seed applications. Landfill operators that also operate nearby compost facilities have the advantage of using home-grown compost for TerraSeeding. 17

22 Recently Capped and Historically Closed Landfills (more than 1 acre) Seeding Consider mechanical planters for larger areas where broadcast seeding methods is not efficient. Specific models that can successfully plant native grasses and flowers include the Tye drill, Truax drill, John Deere Rangeland drill, and properly outfitted Brillion seeders. Most wildflowers need cold, moist stratification to encourage spring germination. Because of this, seeding large areas with pollinator plantings of an acre or more should be completed in the late fall. Rolling Roll the seeded area with a tractor on larger areas to ensure good soil to seed contact. If your site is wet, wait until it is dry to avoid compaction How seed mixes are applied depends on the size and site characteristics of your site. Mulching Mulch the area with 2.5 cm of clean, weed-free straw (will help with soil moisture and increase germination). If seeding on steep slopes, straw can be held in place with jute or plastic mesh. Never use field hay as it may contain unwanted plant seeds. 18

23 Maintain Waste management operators need to control weedy species at all landfills, and control woody vegetation for the safety and reliability of the clay capping and methane wells at closed landfill sites. Removing weedy species creates a more open, pollinator-friendly habitat and reduces competition for pollinator-friendly seeds to establish. In areas where non-native and weedy vegetation becomes too dense, land managers must remove them with herbicides, mechanical operations or a combination of methods. The continued maintenance of weedy species in an integral step in ensuring the successful establishment of your pollinator habitat. The first two years of post-planting growing seasons usually need regimented management actions to control for weed establishment and reduce competition with your pollinator plantings. Year 1: Post Fall Planting Consider strategically mowing your planted area when your vegetation reaches a height of 30 cm; or when many weeds begin to flower. Unwanted weed species can be spot sprayed with herbicide applications using a backpack sprayer; this is particularly useful when combating woody invasives and unwanted perennial species such as dandelion that you may miss with a mower. Use herbicide applications following BMPs and an IVM approach. Do not allow herbicides to drift or drop onto desirable pollinator plant species. Do not hand-pick unwanted plant species during the first year of plant establishment, as the surrounding pollinator seedlings are still developing their root systems. Year 2: Spring Clean Up In early spring, before plant emergence, mow and rack away previous season s debris. Maintain19 If you have prepared your site well, and mowed Removing weedy species creates a more open, pollinator-friendly habitat and reduces competition for pollinator-friendly seeds to establish.

24 aggressively during the first year of establishment, your pollinator habitat should be more visible. During the second year, most remaining weed species are biennial weeds (develop thick taproot during first year, then flower during the second year before dying). Mow strategically. Wait until most biennial weeds are about to flower, then mow only as necessary. On smaller sites, you can maintain weeds with a string trimmer, hand-handing or by using herbicide applications. Remove weeds during the second year BEFORE they produce seed this is important! Year 3: Spring Mowing During the spring of year 3, you should start to see regular flowering of most of your native wildflowers and grasses. Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators will become more common. Your maintenance during year 3 and onward should include periodic mowing to eliminate small trees and shrubs (on your capped landfill), as well as cool season unwanted grass species. You should mow in early spring before most of your desirable wildflowers and native grasses emerge. Year 4 and Beyond: Long Term Management After your pollinator habitat, has matured in year 4 and beyond, you should only mow part of the seeded area in a single season (only one-third of your overall area). Do not mow any single area more than every two years, to protect dormant insects such as pupae or native cavity nesting bee larvae. Leave patches of pollinator habitat un-mowed to ensure a population of insects to recolonize the treated areas of the site. Re-seeding your pollinator habitat may (>10 years) be necessary to support long-term plant diversity. Maintain 20

25 Best Management Practices for Maintaining your Pollinator habitat Unwanted Vegetation and Weed Control Unwanted vegetation, such as invasive and/or aggressive plant species can compromise your pollinator plantings and the overall goals of pollinator habitat creation. There is a subset of plant species for which management is regulated by the Ontario Weeds Act. For more information, visit the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs website: www. omafra.gov.on.ca Competition from weeds for sunlight, water and nutrients is perhaps your largest challenge to successfully establish wildflowers and pollinator habitat. Depending on of the number of weeds or non-native species at your site, you may need one to two years of site preparation. You will need to eliminate the seeds and rhizomes of perennial weeds as part of preparing sites. Annual and biennial weed seed may still be present after one year of site preparation. However, with on-going maintenance for the first few years, your pollinator habitat will be largely free of weed species. Weed control during site preparation requires the use of broad-spectrum herbicides, solarisation, burning, sod removal, or a combination of these methods. When deciding, which weed control method to use, consider site conditions, project time and budget constraints. In general, herbicide free methods are usually more expensive and labor intensive and may be better suited for smaller scale sites such as around maintenance buildings, unless you have access to a hardworking crew or volunteers. There are several Best Management Practices (BMPs) for doing this efficiently. Successful weedy plant removal takes time, commitment and dedication to the process. Depending on of the number of weeds or non-native species at your site, you may need one to two years of site preparation. During the planning stages, identify invasive plants for removal. Decide on your tolerance level for weeds. Maintain21

26 For maximum efficiency, apply herbicide treatments when weeds or unwanted vegetative species are actively growing. Clean machinery, boots, and other tools used onsite to reduce the spread of invasive plant seeds and other reproductive parts following the Ontario Invasive Plant Council (OIPC) Clean Equipment Protocol for Industry 6. For more information, visit the OIPC website: ontarioinvasiveplants.ca Install desired plant material as quickly as possible after you have removed the invasive plants. Monitor the site frequently and have a plan in place for additional removal as needed. Remove non-native grasses from seeding mixes. Herbicide Applications Direct impacts of herbicides on local pollinator communities generally comes from a reduction in their food supply 7. Removing any flowering species will impact forage for pollinators, making populations less viable. For maximum efficiency, apply herbicide treatments when weeds or unwanted vegetative species are actively growing. It is important that all cool season weed grasses are actively growing when applying herbicides. If you apply herbicides when cool season plants are dormant during the heat of the summer, the herbicide will not get to the roots of the plant. Carefully diagnose your weed problem. Before applying herbicide(s), make sure the weed population has reached a level where chemical control is necessary. Applying an Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) approach is recommended to prevent larger invasions. For more information regarding EDRR resources and how to better detect and reduce invasive species at your site, visit their website: Eliminate, or at least minimize, the use of herbicides. Reducing herbicide applications will help flowers that pollinators need to survive. If herbicide treatments are necessary, consider completing applications before pollinator forage plants are in bloom. Treat the managed landscape in thirds. Approach weed management decisions by treating the landscape in thirds to avoid creating pollinator food deserts. Maintain 22

27 Minimize drift and broadcast spraying. Use a back-pack or belt applicator when possible. This will avoid over spraying or killing desired flowering plants. Also consider spraying the cuts of multi-stemmed woody plants immediately. This will prevent the cut from healing over and allowing the undesired plant to persist and thrive. If using a motorized spray rig, always shut off the sprayer when making turns at field ends near gardens, ponds, or other areas that pollinators and other wildlife may use. Mowing and Pruning Mowing is the most common management technique used to control or eliminate unwanted vegetation. Since pollinators visit flowers searching for food in the form of nectar and pollen, mowing less will increase the natural food supply for bees and other pollinating species. Mowing once a year in late autumn, when pollinators are not flying, may have the least impact on pollinators. When making the choice to mow and how often, studies show that single-season mowing is better than no mowing. Manage mowing to reduce impacts on pollinators. Consider annual or bi-annual mowing regimes. Leave patches un-mowed so you do not remove all pollinator habitat at once. Mow when most plants are past bloom. Pollinators collect pollen and nectar from blooming flowers. When flowers are out of bloom, pollinator activity rapidly declines. Schedule mowing around pollinator activity. Certain times of the year are more active than others. For example, monarch butterflies most actively use milkweed in Ontario from the end of May through to September when they migrate south. In many areas, there are two bee assemblages: spring and summer. There is often a period of 1-2 weeks between them when almost no bees are flying (around late June or early July in southern Ontario); this could be a good time to mow. Mow at slower speeds and time when pollinators are active. Mow during the day when pollinators and other wildlife are active and at slower speeds so they have a better chance to escape. Another cause of failure of pollinator habitat creation is insufficient mowing to control for weeds in the establishment years. Maintain23

28 Best Management Practices Land managers looking to increase biodiversity, or the stewardship value of local lands, have many opportunities to enhance pollinator habitat across a waste management site. Actively planning and planting flowering species, and by providing nesting material are key activities. Provide blooms from April to October. Include at least 3 flowering species per season. Choose different flowering shapes to accommodate native species with different tongue lengths. Provide hollow twigs and stems; downed logs, or bee hotels at the site for cavity nesting bee species. Include larval host plants into seeding and planting mixes (e.g., milkweed). Remove non-native grasses from seeding mixes. Enhance Waste Management sites and facilities provide excellent opportunities to increase the diversity of local native flowering plants, shrubs and trees, to support healthy pollinator populations. By using native plants and incorporating nesting materials at landfill sites, waste management operators can support healthy pollinator populations that benefit area farms, gardens and native landscapes. Land managers looking to increase biodiversity, or the stewardship value of local lands, have many opportunities to enhance pollinator habitat across a waste management site. Actively planning and planting flowering species, and by providing nesting material are key activities. Recommendations for Specific Pollinator Species Managing for Butterflies Butterflies area more commonly associated with edge habitats 8. Management strategies that increased edges (especially ones that created more scalloped edges), favoured trees along sidelines, and increased bare ground provided better butterfly habitat 9. Sunlight is important for butterflies that need to bask in the sun to warm their bodies for flight 10. Clearing larger, taller vegetation, a common practice with landfill site maintenance, benefits butterflies. Having the right host plant is important for attracting butterflies and moths 10,11,12. Because of this, the timing of mowing or herbicide applications is key. Mowing will increase butterfly occurrence 13. Management regimes that limit and time mowing are the most successful as they ensure that key host and forage plants can be present or bloom when butterflies need them. To successfully support a particular species of butterfly, you plant or promote the host plants that benefit that species. For example, the endangered Karner Blue Butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) looks for lupins as a good source of nectar to give it the energy it needs for flying. Promoting lupins within the known range Enhance 24

29 of the Karner Blue through active planting and integrated vegetation management increases the number of adults and caterpillars 14. Managing for Monarchs Like other butterflies, monarchs have an obligatory host plant, milkweeds. Monarch butterflies migrate across the continent so it is important to have milkweed along their migratory corridor and to make sure milkweeds are available for caterpillars to feed on at the right time. Timing of mowing or herbicide use is critical to promote monarchs. Milkweed is a commonly occurring plant on naturalized buffer areas. Because herbicides are used extensively in many agricultural areas, milkweed may be virtually absent. This makes planned efforts to encourage milkweed in buffer areas an important way to help monarch butterflies. You can also plant milkweed from plugs or seeds to increase populations. Site preparation is key, as milkweed plants are not strong competitors in environments dominated by weeds or dense grasses. Managing for Hummingbirds Shrubs along buffers, roadsides and buildings can provide food and shelter for songbirds and small mammals. You can also leave scattered dead trees as snags for nesting birds, bats and other mammals. Hummingbirds, like many species of specialized pollinators, are dependent on nectar sources from preferred plants, namely native species with long, tubular blossoms. Shrubs and trees in the buffer areas around landfill sites are ideal sites for roosting. Your work to maintain healthy and diverse landscapes through integrated vegetation management also provides habitat for diverse communities of insects on which adult hummingbirds feed to developing young. Enhance25

30 Managing for Native Bees Unlike honeybees, which live together in hives, most wild bees live solitary lives and nest in the soil, plants or wood debris provided by a well-managed landscape. Prairie grass and wildflowers growing around active landfills, and on closed landfills and other waste management facilities provide pollinator food and shelter. Humanaltered landscapes with many different flowering plants can support diverse and plentiful communities of native bees, especially with planned mowing and selective use of herbicides 15. Integrated vegetation management creates more floristically diverse landscapes and more diverse bee communities. Tests monitoring the success of integrated vegetation management to increase the number of local bees in California show nearly twice as many species and significantly increased numbers. Native bee nesting is 30% higher in these areas 16. Managing for Honey Bees Actively planning and planting flowering species, and providing nesting material are key activities. Closed landfills are plentiful and accessible, which makes them ideal sites for beekeepers to pasture their bees during specific seasons or before and after pollination contracts. Some beekeepers have developed land use contracts with the landfill industry that allow them peace of mind to leave their bees where abundance natural food sources exist. Correctly placing honey bee hives on waste management sites is key. Place bee hives away from work sites or buildings visited by workers, or too near access roads. Land use agreements help site managers and beekeepers communicate about locating bee hives and careful use of pesticides to promote healthy bees. However, if you are trying to help wild bee populations recover, use caution when entering into such agreements with honeybee keepers. Honeybees are efficient competitors for floral resources, and possible carriers of disease, so this may slow the recovery of wild bee populations. Enhance 26

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32 Case Studies Throughout North America, several waste management facilities successfully grow and maintain pollinator-friendly habitat on-site. Below are examples of case studies, relevant for the different landfill types in Ontario. These 25 acres include a 5,980 square-foot pollinator garden and a 37,580 square-foot pollinator meadow which increase suitable pollinator habitat and support environmental conservation and stewardship initiatives. Open (Active) Landfill Waste Management of Pennsylvania - Bucks County Landfills Waste Management of Pennsylvania Bucks County Landfills provides an example of success in creating pollinator habitat around an open (active) landfill facility in Bucks County PA. Bucks Country Landfills is a 6,200 acre site located in Bucks County, Pennsylvania consisting of two active landfills, one closed landfill, and other waste management facilities. In addition to these waste management facilities, Waste Management of Pennsylvania Bucks County Landfills also actively manages 4,100 acres of wildlife habitat, which includes 25 acres of gardens, meadows, and wildlife food plots that host a number of native plant species meant to attract and support pollinators. These efforts have been taking place since 1988, and as of 2013, most of these plots are reseeding naturally, allowing native species such as the yellow coneflower to flourish. These 25 acres include a 5,980 square-foot pollinator garden and a 37,580 square-foot pollinator meadow which increase suitable pollinator habitat and support environmental conservation and stewardship initiatives. This includes the Intergenerational Pollinator Partnership Project, a joint initiative between Waste Management of Pennsylvania, students from the Pen Ryn School, and seniors from the Falls Township Senior Centre who work to grow and maintain pollinator gardens at the waste management site, their school, and senior s centre. The Bucks County Audubon society is also involved in providing education regarding the role of avian pollinator species. This represents a unique example of how waste management associations can work together with communities to discover the importance of pollinators and promote community stewardship. 28

33 The site managers met many challenges installing these gardens, including the initial use of the wrong seed mix (which included aggressive invasive species), but the pollinator team met these challenges well with diligent maintenance and hand-pulling of weeds and unwanted species. For their hard work in providing valuable wildlife habitat, Waste Management of PA - Bucks County Landfills has been awarded Wildlife Habitat Council certification since Closed (Recently Capped) Landfill Niagara Region - Glenridge Quarry Naturalization Site Today, the Glenridge Quarry Naturalization Site is an awardwinning 44.8 hectare urban nature park located on the Niagara Escarpment near St. Catherines, Ontario. The site, however, was once home to an open pit limestone quarry, and then a municipal landfill operated by the City of St Catherines from the late 1970s until the landfill s closure in In anticipation of the landfill s closure in 2001, Niagara Region wanted to take a different approach. Usually, a landfill closure would involve a basic protective seed covering and planting a few small trees with a fence to restrict public access. Instead, those responsible for the Glenridge Quarry Landfill wanted to take a different approach: protect the environment, increase pollinator habitat, and build a new community conservation and recreation area. Site restoration revolved primarily around planting Carolinian vegetation species, to recreate a pollinator habitat where none had existed for decades. About 2 acres of the site are planted with pollinator-friendly species. Studies conducted through Brock University show the Glenridge Quarry Naturalization Site has made incredible contributions to pollinator recovery in the region, with over 125 bee species (and counting!) now occupying the site. Developing the Glenridge Quarry Naturalization Site required extensive planning, design, and construction but was highly rewarding for the all the people and organizations Those responsible for the Glenridge Quarry Landfill wanted to take a different approach: protect the environment, increase pollinator habitat, and build a new community conservation and recreation area. 29

34 involved. For their ground-breaking work in environmental rehabilitation, Niagara Region has won several international awards including First Place and Gold Award at the 2005 International Awards for Liveable Communities, 2005 Project of the Year from the Ontario Public Works Association, and further excellence awards from the New York Upstate Chapters of the American Society of Landscape Architects and the American Planning Association. These 25 acres include a 5,980 square-foot pollinator garden and a 37,580 square-foot pollinator meadow which increase suitable pollinator habitat and support environmental conservation and stewardship initiatives. Closed (Historically Capped) Landfill City of Hamilton East Hamilton Recreation Trail Hub The East Hamilton Recreation Trail Hub, restored in 2010, is the site of two (Rennie and Brampton Street) landfills that were opened in the 1950s and closed and capped in 1971 (Rennie) and 1974 (Brampton). The City of Hamilton successfully turned these historically capped landfills into a greenspace that connects East Hamilton to the Lake Ontario waterfront and closes a trail gap identified by the Ontario Waterfront Trail Strategy. Rehabilitating Rennie and Brampton was a two-stage process of remediation and restoration. The closeness of the Rennie and Brampton Landfill Sites to the Red Hill Creek and Hamilton Waterfront made it a prime candidate for inclusion in the East Hamilton Recreational Trail Hub and Waterfront Link and an excellent candidate for habitat restoration. The East Hamilton Recreation Trail Hub includes 25,700 square meters of pollinator-friendly meadows, 9,000 square meters of pollinator-friendly wetlands, and 13,000 square meters of pollinator-friendly forested areas. The site managers planted various native trees, shrubs, grasses and forbs, and they aggressively removed non-native/invasive plants. The pollinator team focused their planting design on including sheltered interior open native meadows connected by narrow ridges, and bordered by protective edges of shrubs and trees to attract native pollinators, including bees, wasps, butterflies and moths. For their efforts, the City of Hamilton has won Gold and First Prize at the Landfill Re-Use Excellence Awards SWANA in 2012 and the CSLA Regional Merit Awards in

35 Budget Considerations At historically closed landfills, or for larger scaled pollinator plantings, a phased approach is a good option when considering budget constraints, given there can be significant site preparation and maintenance requirements. Remember to keep in mind small steps can be taken with a relatively small amount of money, that can make significant contributions to pollinators in your area. Internally decide the maximum amount of funding your company can spend on this project and seek support from departments other than your own. Approach your team and find out if extra support can be leveraged by the local government, community members, or other companies. Although volunteer hours are not monetary, seek commitments from groups such as Master Gardeners or Master Naturalist in your community. Weekly or even monthly commitments to perform specific site maintenance tasks will reduce overall maintenance costs. Table 1: Differences in cost and effectiveness of varying seed mixes to pollinators. Factors Wildflower & Native Grass* (Dry, Sandy Soil Mix) Wildflower & Grass* (Loam Soil Mix) Wildflower & Grass* (Clay) Wildflower & Grass* (Forest Edge Part Shade Mix) Wildflower & Grass* (detention Basin Wet Meadow Mix) Cost $ CA/ Acre* ~+$1, ~$1, $2, $2, ~$2, Longevity >10 years >10 years >10 years >10 years >10 years Flowering April to September April to September April to September April to September April to September Cutting Best if removed Best if removed Best if removed Best if removed Best if removed Habitat Quality Rich in flowers = rich in pollinators Rich in flowers = rich in pollinators Rich in flowers = pollinators Rich in flowers = pollinators Rich in flowers = rich in pollinators *costs based on seed ratios with approximately 60% wildflower seeds and 40% native grasses and Wildflower Farm Natural Landscaping Solutions Seed Mix estimates. For more information visit their website at: 31

36 Table 1: Differences in cost and effectiveness of varying seed mixes to pollinators. Item Lead Budgeted Amount Planting Materials Waste Corp. $10,000-$12,000 Invasive Plant Removal Ecological Services, Inc. $2,000 -$3,200 Seeding and Planting Precision Landscapers LLC $2,500-$3,500 Development of Interpretive Signage (one sign) Installation of Interpretive Signage (one sign) Post-Planting Weekly Watering for two months. Weekly Invasive Plant Scouting Ecological Services, Inc. $500-$800 Precision Landscapers LLC $500-$1,000 Precision Landscapers LLC $1,000-$2,500 Master Gardeners (volunteers)/ Ecological Services, Inc. $ TOTAL $16,500-24,000 Evaluate your Project Project evaluation is an important step in developing pollinator habitat. The entire team should take part in the evaluation, and you should also seek additional comments from the broader community not represented on the pollinator project team. Did the project meet the outlined goals? Were any challenges faced during planning and implementation? How were these challenges addressed? Based on this initial project, use what you have learned to begin expanding pollinator habitat in other areas of the site, or at other water management facilities and sites. Take an inventory of existing plants and pollinators before site preparation. Also, conduct a pollinator survey or partner with an organization or company that can. Baseline information is valuable to assessing benefits. Assess how well the seed mix established. Which species germinated? Which species are dominant? Are there any species that are not growing well? Take before pictures. 32

37 After plants establish, conduct a pollinator survey or partner with an organization or company that can. Identify plants and pollinators to their genus, if possible. After plant establishment (about 2 growing seasons) take the first of many after pictures. Decide whether to install more or different plant materials. Monitoring and Research Understanding how pollinators are using habitats is essential for pollinator conservation, and as a gauge of project success. Large-scale citizen science monitoring projects exist for many pollinators, including as butterflies and bumble bees. The North American Butterfly Association supports annual butterfly counts ( participate.html). Monarch Watch supports monarch butterfly tagging programs that connect to overwintering counts in Mexico ( Other programs such as ebutterfly ( org) and BumblebeeWatch ( org) link citizen data collectors to experts that support identification. Monitoring pollinators can be challenging because there are so many species, which can look and behave similarly. Developing easy-to-use identification tools and standard protocols helps. In addition, data collected by citizen scientists can be very important for research and conservation biology, but this data needs to be collected using standard protocols that makes it usable for other studies. The Pollinator Partnership (P2) and Shared Value Solutions (SVS) are partners with many public and private pollinator landscapes to conduct monitoring and research initiatives. Contact us if you are interested in including your landfill pollinator habitat in a scientific study that can aid in pollinator conservation. Your landfill habitat can be a valuable outreach and education tool. Consider hosting pollinator monitoring events with local schools or community groups. Consider offering your pollinator habitat as a study site to conservation biologists. Important things to remember when developing a pollinator monitoring protocol The timing of bloom in your region. When does bloom start? When does it end? Visit the site multiple times throughout the season, and multiple times throughout the day. When monitoring monarch butterflies, monitor for larvae and adults. into seeding and planting mixes (e.g., milkweed). 33

38 Sharing Success Let the community know what you and your partners are doing for pollinators! Create a website, Facebook page, or a Twitter account to inform and engage neighbours, local land users, municipal governments, naturalist groups and others. Take before and after pictures. Post pictures of planting activities and the pollinators coming to your waste management site or facility areas. Provide planting lists so members of the public can also plant for pollinators. Hold public meetings to communicate the status of the pollinator habitat throughout the course of the project. Make sure to invite various partners and contributors to speak and be available for questions. Visit the Pollinator Partnership website at org for outreach materials and more information. Register this site with the S.H.A.R.E. (Simply Have Areas Reserved for the Environment) program: pollinator.org/share.htm Hold a Pollinator Week event and add it to the Event Calendar at 34

39 Certification and Recognition If you want to find out more about taking part in corporate habitat certification contact the Wildlife Habitat Council ( P2 and SVS can assist in connecting you with organizations that give recognition for creating pollinator habitat. Certification ensures that your habitat sustains pollinators and puts your sustainability and habitat projects in the national spotlight. In addition, P2 s signature initiative, the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign (NAPPC) offers recognition to the best pollinator habitat. Visit for more information. Connect Stay connected with national and international conservation efforts! There are many web-based networks that provide recognition and support and hold regional and national meetings to share your success. The P2 s will direct you to the S.H.A.R.E. map that registers all pollinator projects across the continent. Monitoring and Research Contact P2 or SVS if you would like to include your pollinator habitat plantings in a scientific study that can aid in pollinator conservation. Also, consider a monitoring program such as Monarch Larva Monitoring Project: If the site is known habitat for a sensitive species, review all laws, regulations, and guidelines. Consult with your regional Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, or Environment Canada office for additional guidance. Even the slightest change in sensitive habitat can have negative effects on the rare, threatened, and endangered species it supports. However, with careful planning, a habitat enhancement project could benefit both species-at-risk AND other pollinators. Certification ensures that your habitat sustains pollinators and puts your sustainability and habitat projects in the national spotlight. 35

40 Learn about our Pollinators! Bees Bees are the best known and the most important pollinators of wild and agricultural plants. While all pollinators visit flowers, bees are the only pollinators that actively collect pollen. For bees, pollen is an essential protein source that they collect and store to feed their developing young. The behaviour of bees on flowers and their hairy bodies make them efficient at moving pollen from one plant to another. There are more than 800 native species of bees in Canada, Ontario is a native bee biodiversity hot spot with over 400 of these species in the Province. There are more than 800 native species of bees in Canada, Ontario is a native bee biodiversity hot spot with over 400 of these species in the Province. Wild bees are an incredibly diverse group of organisms with an estimated 20,000 species globally 17. The diversity of lifestyles in the wild bee community is large and includes varied nesting habitats as well as different levels of social interactions. Most bees live solitary lives and do not interact with one another, nor do they make honey. Some bees, like carpenter bees or sweat bees will live in aggregations nesting side-by-side. Very few bees are truly social, living in colonies with multiple generations. The Different Bee Groups Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) are large social bees that live in colonies and produce honey, much like honey bees. Bumble bees look for nests in abandoned mouse nests, other rodent burrows, upside down flower pots, under boards, and other human-made cavities. Colonies are founded by a queen in the spring. The number of workers in a colony can grow to 10,000 at the peak of summer bloom. Bumble bee colonies die out in the fall after producing new queens. New queens mate and then overwinter, hiding in cracks or small crevices until the next spring. Bumble bees are usually active during the morning hours and can forage at colder temperatures than honey bees, even flying in light rain. There are 18 recorded species of bumble bees in Southern Ontario 18 and they are some of the most easily identifiable and observable native bee species. 36

41 Most wild bees in Ontario nest in the ground, including digger bees (Anthophora spp.), sweat bees (Halictus spp., Agapostemon spp. and others), squash and gourd bees (Peponapis spp.), plasterer or cellophane bees (Nomia spp. and Colletes spp.) and alkali bees (Andrea spp.), which prefer more salty soils. Ground nesting bees need sunny, bare ground, and less compacted soil. Carpenter bees (Xylocopa spp.) nest in soft dead wood, poplar, cottonwood or willow trunks and limbs, and structural timbers. There is only one species of Carpenter bee in Ontario (Xylocopa virginica), which nests almost exclusively in structural timber. Small carpenter bees (Ceratina spp.) chew out nests in pithy stems including the stems of roses and blackberry canes. Other wild bees make use of pre-existing holes and tunnels, often made by beetles. These bees include leaf-cutter bees (Megachile spp.), mason bees (Osmia spp.) and small yellow-faced bees (Hylaeus spp.). Wild Bee Life Cycle Most solitary wild bees have life cycles of approximately one year. Different species occur throughout the spring, summer, and early fall, and they all like flowering plants. Some solitary bees, such as carpenter bees, live for 4-5 months through the whole summer, during which time they feed their offspring. But overall, a varied set of lifestyle and occurrence times (also known as phenology), floral habitats must be diverse and must provide blooming flowers from early spring through to the fall. Estimates of the number of flower visits needed to support native bee populations range from 500 to 1,100 a day meaning that abundant floral landscapes are key to keeping bee populations healthy and stable. Flowering plants also have to be close to where wild bees live, as foraging distances for wild bees range on average between 100 to 300 metres from their nests. Bees spend a few days as an egg, a week or two as larvae, and another few weeks or even months as a pupa, but they can overwinter or hibernate in any of these stages. For bees that nest in wood or dry plant stems it is important to leave vegetative material undisturbed through the fall and winter seasons as they may contain bee nests. Most wild bees in Ontario nest in the ground - needing sunny, bare ground, and less compacted soil. 37

42 Wild bees face challenges from habitat loss that is a result of land conversion for agricultural, urban, or industrial uses. As natural areas shrink so does their carrying capacity, and populations of wild bees see reduced forage and nesting resources. In highly fragmented landscapes food resources may be beyond foraging ranges, which results in lower nest success and fewer bees. Wild bees existing in or near agricultural areas also face non-target impacts from chronic exposure to pesticides, similar to honey bees. Current research shows that impaired foraging and reduced reproductive abilities correlates with chronic pesticide exposure, in particular products that have extended residual toxicities and longer lifetimes in the environment 19. Overall, wild bees that are exposed to pesticides are not as healthy and productive. Honey bees are essential partners in pollinating row crops including alfalfa, fruit and nut trees, berries, and field vegetables. Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are managed for pollination services and honey production throughout the world. They represent one of the estimated 20,000 species of bees globally 17. Honey bees are not native to Ontario, but rather were imported from Europe and northern Africa in the late 1700s. Managing honey bees for agricultural pollination services is a newer phenomenon that has grown throughout the 20th century 20. Today, managed honey bees are essential partners in pollinating row crops including alfalfa, fruit and nut trees, berries, and field vegetables to name a few. Other common managed bees include bumble bees, leafcutter bees, mason bees, and alkali bees. The managed non-apis bee industry is growing in size but is nowhere near that of the honey beekeeping industry. A Year in the Life of a Honey Bee Colony Honey bees are unique in that they are truly social bees that live in a colony where they divide tasks and roles between workers, have a queen, and persist in the colony over multiple seasons and years. This lifestyle is very uncommon in the pollinator community but it has made honey bees successful in many landscapes. Winter A bee hive has a seasonal cycle that repeats from year to year. During the winter a hive is dormant. The bees in the colony surround the queen and keep her warm. The colony 38

43 survives the winter by feeding on honey stores that were collected the previous year. Spring When the weather gets warmer and spring flowers start to bloom the colony becomes more active. Overwintering foragers leave the hive to collect pollen and nectar; the queen has been laying eggs (between 1500 to 2000 each day) and the colony is ready for spring growth. Summer In early summer the colony is very active. Foragers leave daily to collect pollen and nectar and many new worker bees emerge. By late summer the colony has grown very large and strong. Workers start to produce new queen cells that will become new queen bees (in warmer climates this can occur earlier in the spring as well). After the new queens hatch, they leave the colony, each taking some worker bees with them. This is called swarming. Fall By the fall, flowers have stopped blooming and are producing fruit. The colony works on storing food and foraging for nectar slows. The worker bees and the queen will spend the winter feeding on stored honey, waiting for the spring bloom of flowers. While a honey bee colony can live through multiple years, worker bees have limited lifespans of about 40 days. As a honey bee ages, it cycles through various tasks inside and outside the hive. Right after emerging from their pupa, worker bees build combs and take care of other developing larvae. When they get older they leave the hive and become foragers, bringing back pollen, nectar, and other plant products to the hive. Queens live longer lives than workers, ranging from two to ten years. When a colony has a weak or older queen, or loses a queen unexpectedly due to illness, new queens are produced to take on the role. The behaviour of bees on flowers and their hairy bodies make them efficient at moving pollen from one plant to another. 39

44 Butterflies and Moths Butterflies and moths also visit and pollinate wildflowers. Many moth species are particularly active in the evening and morning hours, visiting flowers that bloom at these times as well. Butterflies, on the other hand, are attracted to open, sunny areas where they can bask and warm themselves. Meadows, grasslands, and other open spaces are ideal habitats for butterflies. Butterflies are attracted to open, sunny areas where they can bask and warm themselves. Butterfly and Moth Life Cycle Butterflies and moths have very different habitat needs for their young (caterpillars) and for adults. Moth and butterfly eggs are laid on leaves of host plants. After a few days these eggs hatch into caterpillars that feed off of the host plant leaves, growing, molting (shedding their skin), and growing again. Caterpillars develop over a two week period during which they can molt up to five times. After their final molt, caterpillars settle into a spot where they develop into a chrysalis and metamorphose into an adult. Metamorphosis usually takes between one to two weeks. When they mature into adults, butterflies and moths feed on nectar from flowers. Sometimes, host plants and nectar plants are the same species, but not always. Butterfly and moth life spans range from just a few days to over a year depending on the species and region. Flies Flies (including mosquitoes) pollinate a range of wild and cultivated plants. One of the most important of all fly pollinator groups are flower flies, in the family Syrphidae. Flower flies are dominant floral visitors and important pollinators wherever they occur. Many flies mimic bees in pattern and coloration to gain protection from predators that avoid bees because of their ability to sting. Unfortunately, less is known about landscape management for flies, which have a complex life cycle where the maggot and the adult often require very different habitats. 40

45 Beetles Beetles are the most ancient pollinators of plants and are considered to be associated with the widest range of species. Their role as functional and significant pollinators is debatable as many are pollen feeding and destroy pollen without significant transfer between plants. Beetle pollinators (including scarabs, staphylinids and sap beetles) are indiscriminate in which flowers they visit, foraging for pollen and sometimes nectar on open bowl-shaped blossoms that offer easy access. Beetles are attracted to primitive blossoms including magnolia and tulip trees. As with other wild pollinators, threats from habitat loss, climate change, invasive species, and non-target exposure to pesticides can reduce populations. Management and conservation strategies for beetles are not well developed. Bats Pollinating bats have a limited range in North America, existing only in the far southern states and throughout Mexico. These pollinating bats, however, are keystone pollinators of desert plant species and some commercial crops like agave and mezcal. Bats feed on large, nectarproducing flowers in the evening. Many species of bats are also migratory, tracking patterns of food availability as they move throughout their range. Expanding rural and agricultural development, and cultural challenges to conservation, have impacted species throughout Mexico and the southwestern U.S. Hummingbirds Hummingbirds are resident and migratory throughout North America. In their adult form they are nectar feeders, visiting flowers and acting as pollinators of many wild species. Juvenile hummingbirds need insects as a protein-rich food source. Most often, hummingbirds are associated with naturalized or urbanized landscapes where their preferred food plants grow or are cultivated. As with bats, they are seldom in areas where they experience a direct interaction with agricultural pesticide use, but can be impacted by Climate change, and shifts in bloom period are expected to impact migratory species disproportionately meaning that hummingbirds may face future challenges. 41

46 chemical use in garden settings. Climate change, and shifts in bloom period are expected to impact migratory species disproportionately meaning that hummingbirds may face future challenges. Pollinators: Species at Risk Species at Risk (SAR) are plants and animals that are in danger of disappearing from the wild. SAR species include endangered, threatened, and special concern species. Some pollinator species, such as the Karner Blue butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) have been extirpated from Ontario, meaning that they once occurred here but their ranges are now restricted to other geographic areas. Other species at risk are of conservation concern because of their rarity in Ontario, but their formal conservation status has yet to be determined. The survival of a species can be put at risk by a variety or combination of factors, and determining the cause and solution can be complex. Monarch The monarch butterfly life cycle is similar to that of other butterflies and moths, only monarchs have a unique host plant milkweed. Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) are a unique migratory species that make a 5,000 kilometre journey across North America. This journey can take four generations of butterflies to complete. The monarch migration takes these butterflies across three countries and all four seasons of which they encounter many different landscapes and challenges along the way. The monarch butterfly life cycle is similar to that of other butterflies and moths, only monarchs have a unique host plant milkweed. A monarch egg is laid on a milkweed leaf. This egg hatches into a caterpillar within 3 to 6 days. The caterpillar feeds and grows over a 2-week period. Once fully grown, it chooses a safe location to form its chrysalis and, after about 10 days, an adult emerges. The Monarch s range extends from Central America to southern Canada. In Canada, Monarchs are most abundant in southern Ontario and Quebec where milkweed plants and breeding habitat are widespread. During late summer and fall, Monarchs from Ontario migrate to central Mexico where they spend the winter months. During migration, groups of 42

47 Monarchs numbering in the thousands can be seen along the north shores of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Milkweed is critical for monarchs as their caterpillars will not survive and thrive on any other plant. Land conversion throughout their migratory range, and in particular the proliferation of herbicide resistant crops and attitudes toward milkweed have created food deserts, in which monarchs cannot survive. The milkweed deficit in these agricultural lands must be made up for in other landscapes that are a better fit for sustaining milkweed populations. Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee Similar to other bumble bee species, the rusty-patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) is yellow and black, but males and workers have a distinctive rusty-coloured patch on the second segment of their abdomen. The Rusty-patched bumble bee was once widespread and common throughout eastern North America, but has suffered rapid and severe declines throughout their entire range since the 1970s. Despite extensive survey efforts every year, the last known occurrence of Rusty-patched bumble bee in Canada was at Pinery Provincial Park in Karner Blue Butterfly The Karner Blue (Lycaeides melissa samuelis ) has a lifespan of about five days as an adult butterfly. Blue caterpillars feed only on wild lupine leaves; as an adult butterfly they feed on a variety of flowering plants. Declines of wild lupine populations and oak savannah habitats are responsible for the extirpation of Karner Blue and are also likely responsible for the extirpation of two other butterfly species in Ontario, the Frosted Elfin and the Eastern Persius Duskywing. Declines of wild lupine populations and oak savannah habitats are responsible for the extirpation of Karner Blue and are also likely responsible for the extirpation of two other butterfly species in Ontario. 43

48 44 Pollinator Plant Lists Pollinators don t see municipal or political boundaries; pollinators are present as a result of local plant communities, climate, and environmental history. Maintain and enhance natural heritage, and celebrate the unique plants and animals of each ecoregion to support pollinators. When making planting choices, consider species that are local and right for microclimates and soil types. The list of pollinator-supporting planting suggestions below includes native species that are appropriate for restoration seeding throughout Ontario. It is important that native seed species should be source-identified native seed that are true Ontario wild-type by seed zone. The characteristics of each species, including bloom time, height, soil, and light preferences will help you choose a mix that works for your site. For location on the landfill cap consider planting only forbs and shelter plants that have shallower root systems. Trees, shrubs, and other woody species can have deeper root systems, and are more suitable for planting at the periphery of the cap and throughout the buffer zone. Enhancing Pollinator Habitats at Waste Management Sites