Introduction

Wild pollinators and managed bees are critically important to the health of New York’s environment, as well as the strength of the state’s agricultural economy. Many of the state’s leading crops, such as apples, cabbage, berries, pumpkins and several other fruits, rely heavily on insect pollination. New York State is also home to more than 450 wild pollinator species, a native population that is important not only to the pollination of commercial crops, but to biodiversity in our environment. (Sourced from DEC New York State Pollinator Protection Plan, 2016)

By completing this section you will:

  • Become familiar with beneficial insects, how to attract them to the garden and their value in the ecosystem and cultivated landscapes.
  • Learn about insect morphology and identify key morphological characteristics of insects.
  • Explain the two common life cycle types of insects - complete and incomplete metamorphosis
    • Three major body parts: head, thorax, abdomen
    • Six legs
    • Exoskeleton
    • Antennae
  • Become familiar with the characteristics of five orders of common garden insects:
    • Coleoptera (beetles)
    • Diptera (true flies)
    • Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths)
    • Hymenoptera (bees, wasps and ants)
    • Hemiptera (true bugs, hoppers, aphids)
  • Recognize the evidence insects leave behind on plants.

Next, click on the button below for the readings on this topic.