Pollinators in Michigan
Pollinators are the quiet workforce of Michigan’s farms, gardens and natural spaces. Bees, butterflies and other insects move pollen from flower to flower, allowing crops and wild plants to produce fruit and seed. Michigan has one of the most diverse pollinator communities in the Midwest, yet many species are declining because of habitat loss, pesticides, climate change and disease. Those losses affect everything from orchard yields to grocery prices. Here’s what’s happening and why it matters.
How many pollinators live in Michigan?
Michigan is home to about 465 native bee species, according to the MSU Pollinator Initiative. These bees range from tiny mining bees to large bumble bees. They pollinate crops and wildflowers across the state and play a bigger role than many people realize.
The state also has more than 150 butterfly species, based on records from the MSU Pollinator Initative. Some butterflies are strong pollinators, but even those that aren’t are still signs of ecosystem health. When butterflies disappear, it usually means habitats are breaking down in other ways too.
Endangered and protected pollinators in Michigan
Several Michigan pollinators are listed as endangered or threatened:
Rusty-patched bumble bee — once common in Michigan, now federally endangered and rarely seen.
Karner blue butterfly — endangered and tied to wild lupine habitat that has become rare.
Poweshiek skipperling — one of the rarest butterflies in the world, surviving mainly in a few Michigan sites.
Mitchell’s satyr — endangered and found mostly in Michigan’s prairie fen wetlands.
Michigan’s state endangered species list includes more species at risk. Most are declining because the habitats they depend on have been reduced or altered.
Which Michigan crops rely on pollinators?
Michigan agriculture depends heavily on insect pollination. A report from the State of Michigan estimates that around 100 Michigan crops rely to some degree on bees or other pollinators.
Key examples include:
Apples — Michigan is one of the nation’s top producers and requires extensive insect pollination
Blueberries — pollination strong enough to maintain fruit size and yield comes largely from bees
Cherries — both tart and sweet cherries need reliable pollination
Cucumbers
Pumpkins, squash and melons
Peppers and tomatoes
The value of pollination services to Michigan agriculture reaches hundreds of millions of dollars annually when both wild and managed bees are considered together.
How pollinator loss affects food production and food prices
Declining pollinator populations directly reduce yields of pollinator-dependent crops.
Higher grocery prices follow lower yields. Economic modeling by researchers and agencies such as the USDA Economic Research Service shows that for crops like fruits, berries and vegetables, price changes can exceed yield losses because supply chains are tight and substitution options are limited.
A simple scenario:
If Michigan experiences a 10–20% drop in wild pollinators, orchard and berry growers could see meaningful reductions in fruit set. That would shrink statewide supply.
Reduced supply combined with steady demand typically leads to price increases on apples, berries, pumpkins, cucumbers and other produce.
Some modeling shows that price spikes for specialty crops can nearly double the percentage of the yield loss because markets have few alternatives.
For households already struggling with grocery costs, this matters. Pollinator declines don’t just affect ecosystems, they raise prices on everyday fruits and vegetables.
What’s driving pollinator declines?
Scientists identify several major stressors that often compound one another:
Habitat loss — development, simplified landscapes and loss of native plant communities reduce food and nesting sites
Pesticides — including neonicotinoids, which researchers at MSU and elsewhere have shown to harm bees
Parasites and disease — such as Varroa mites that weaken honey bees and spill over to wild bees
Climate change — shifting bloom times, extreme weather and mismatched plant–pollinator timing
Invasive plants and insects — which outcompete native plants or disrupt habitat structure
Michigan’s Bumble Bee Atlas project and other citizen-science efforts are helping map where declines are happening fastest.
What Michigan residents and farmers can do
Even small actions can reverse local declines when enough people participate.
Plant native flowers that bloom spring through fall.
Create nesting habitat by leaving some bare soil, fallen stems and natural debris.
Avoid pesticides in home landscapes or follow integrated pest management practices.
Support habitat restoration projects through local conservancies or programs like Bee City USA chapters.
Encourage on-farm practices like flowering field borders, cover crops and reduced pesticide use.
Donate to pollinator support programs like Protect MI Pollinators, which is working toward creating hundreds of pollinator havens across West Michigan yards
Final thought
Pollinators are an economic and ecological cornerstone in Michigan. Losing even a small portion of our bee and butterfly diversity risks weaker harvests, higher grocery prices and emptier meadows. Protecting pollinators is one of the simplest, most cost-effective ways to protect both Michigan agriculture and Michigan communities. With more native plants, fewer pesticides and better habitat management, the state can keep our crop production and ecosystems strong.
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