It’s Pollinator Week, and these insects are vital to Delaware’s agriculture

This week was Pollinator Week—and pollinators play An important position in Delaware’s agricultural sector.

Debbie Delaney, an affiliate professor of entomology Inside the College of Delaware’s school of Agriculture and Pure Assets, says pollinators—like honey bees and squash bees—are needed For A lot of commodity crops in Delaware to bear fruit. 

“Watermelon being Definitely one of them, melons Usually … strawberries additionally,” she said. “Pickling cucumbers are ancompletely different One which’s actually important.”

Native pollinators—like sweat bees—are additionally very important to natural ecosystems. 

Based mostly on the state Division of Agriculture, First State farmers Usher in about 3,000 bee colonies Yearly for crop pollination. That’s Collectively with the state’s 270 registered beekeepers Who’ve 2,000 To three,000 hives.

Honeybee colonies are threatened by Colony Collapse Dysfunction and numerous mites, illnesses and pesticides. Delaney says pollinators face completely different challenges, too.  

“In all probability The Most very important drawback is enchancment and Lack of habitat for pollinators in—I wouldn’t simply say Delaware, probably the mid-Atlantic—Merely as a Outcome of We’re so urbanized and suburban,” she said.

Delaney says The first step to serving to pollinators is educating your self, and avoiding using chemical compounds Similar to Sevin and Raid.

The state additionally provides biggest administration practices for beekeepers, growers, landowners and pesticide clients.