.png)
Where Have All the Insects Gone?
- Eric & Ines
- Aug 12
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 14
Supporting Native Wildlife Starts in the Garden
This summer, something has been missing. At first it was subtle—the quiet around the garden, the fewer bees on the flowers. Then, it became too obvious to ignore.
Just last week, we took a walk through Cooper Marsh Nature Reserve along the St. Lawrence River in South Glengarry. It’s a beautiful, protected wetland known for its biodiversity. On a warm, slightly overcast day, we expected to be greeted by the gentle hum of pollinators at work in the wildflower meadows. Instead, we stood in a field full of blooms and heard... nothing. We spotted only a handful of honeybees and a couple of bumblebees.
In years past, this space would’ve been alive with sound and movement. Where are all the insects?
Why Insects Matter
Insects—especially native species—form the very foundation of the food web. They pollinate plants, decompose organic matter, control pest populations, and serve as a food source for birds, amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals.
Pollinators like native bees, butterflies, moths, flies, and beetles are essential not just for garden produce, but for the reproduction of over 85% of flowering plants. Without them, ecosystems unravel. Insects are the “hidden workers” that keep our world in balance.
So when insect numbers drop, everything else is affected—including us.
What’s Happening?
Multiple stressors are causing insect populations to decline:
Habitat loss from urbanization and agriculture
Widespread pesticide and herbicide use
Conventional farming practices (monocropping, heavy machinery, chemical usage..)
Climate change
Light pollution
Disease and parasites
Lawns
Harmful yard maintenance
And the spread of invasive and non-native plants
Let's focus on: The Problem with Non-Native and Invasive Plants
Not all non-native plants are invasive, but many do pose challenges to native ecosystems.
Invasive plants such as purple loosestrife, garlic mustard, Japanese knotweed, and Norway maple spread aggressively, often outcompeting native species for light, water, and nutrients. They change the structure and chemistry of the soil, disrupt natural processes, and crowd out the plants that insects depend on.
Even non-invasive but non-native ornamentals—like hybrid flowers bred for beauty—may not support local wildlife. They often lack nectar, pollen, or the specific chemical makeup that native insects require. That’s because these plants did not evolve alongside our local pollinators, herbivores, or soil communities.
Caterpillars, for example, are highly specialized. A monarch butterfly caterpillar can only feed on milkweed. Planting butterfly bush won't help—it may attract adults, but it offers nothing for their young.
Without the right plants, insects can’t complete their life cycles. And if they disappear, so too will the birds and animals that rely on them for food.
How Gardeners Can Help
The good news? Every garden can become a sanctuary for native insects and wildlife without looking untidy. Here's how:
🌿 Plant Native Species
Choose plants that evolved in your region. Native flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees provide the food and habitat local wildlife need. They're also adapted to your climate, making them resilient and low-maintenance. Find a list of native plants for Eastern Ontario and book recommendations at the end of this blog post.
🔍 Learn Before You Buy
Always double check if a plant is native to your region. Just because a plant is sold at a local nursery doesn’t mean it’s beneficial—or safe—for your garden ecosystem.
⚠️ Avoid Invasives
Familiarize yourself with the invasive species in your area and remove them when possible. Be wary of “fast-growing” or “drought-tolerant” plants that spread aggressively—they're often ecological bullies. Many native plants are drought-tolerant and are wonderfully adapted to our region (e.g. Echinacea)!
🏡 Provide Habitat
Leave brush piles, rock piles, or logs for shelter
Leave some bare ground or patches of sand for ground-nesting bees
Don't over-mulch everywhere—many native bees need exposed soil
💧 Offer Water
A shallow dish with pebbles or a small wildlife pond can support bees, butterflies, frogs, and other visitors.
🐝 Embrace the Buzz
Many native bees and wasps don’t even have a stinger—and those that do are rarely aggressive. Learn to live alongside them without fear.
🍂 Leave the Leaves
In fall, resist the urge to tidy everything up. Leaves provide critical overwintering habitat for many insects, including butterflies and moths.
🚫 Say No to Pesticides AND Herbicides
Even organic or “natural” sprays can harm beneficial insects. Healthy garden ecosystems keep pests in check naturally. This includes tolerating the 'weeds'. We got so disconnected from nature that any naturally occurring plant in our garden is deemed 'weed'. But these plants are often the food source and habitat plants of native pollinators and other wildlife! We need to re-learn to see the beauty and educate ourselves about the medicinal benefits of these often dismissed plants. Most of these plants are actually edible!
🌸 Plant for All Seasons
Ensure something is blooming from early spring to late fall. Early and late blooms are vital for emerging and overwintering pollinators. See book recommendations below more information.
🌙 Turn Off the Lights
Artificial light disrupts nocturnal insects. Turn off outdoor lights when not needed, or switch to motion sensors and warm-colored bulbs.
🌾 Let It Grow Wild
Dedicate a corner of your yard—or even a container garden—to wild plants and spontaneous growth. Nature often knows best.
A Call to Action
The silence we’re noticing is a warning, but it's also an invitation: to step up as stewards of the land, even in small ways.
Whether you have a sprawling property or a few pots on a balcony, you can make a difference. By gardening with intention—choosing native plants, welcoming wildlife, and letting go of perfection—we can help restore the balance and bring the buzz back.
Let’s turn our gardens into safe havens again—for the insects, the birds, and for ourselves.
🌱Interested in learning more about native plants for Eastern Ontario? Reach out—we’d love to help you build a buzzing, blooming, life-filled garden.
Our Favorite Native Plants (Perennials)
SPRING-BLOOMING
Foamflower
Wild Blue Phlox
Moss Phlox
Canada Mayflower
Starry False Solomon's Seal
Virginia Bluebells
American Alumroot
Wild Strawberry
Wild Geranium
Prairie Smoke
Trout Lily
Woodland Strawberry
Wild Ginger
Canada Anemone
Field Pussytoes
Wild Columbine
Wild Leek
Canada Violet
Downy Yellow Violet
Common Blue Violet
SUMMER-BLOOMING
Woolly Yarrow
Purple Giant Hyssop
False Indigo
Pearly Everlasting
Common Milkweed
Butterfly Milkweed
Lance-Leaved Coreopsis
Flat-Topped White Aster
Purple Coneflower
Orange Coneflower
Black-Eyed Susan
Joe-Pye Weed
Large-Leaved Aster
White Wood Aster
Goldenrods
Woodland Sunflower
Jerusalem Artichoke
False Sunflower
St. John's Wort
Blazing Star(s)
Wild Bergamot/Bee Balms
Evening Primrose
Mountain Mint
Blue Vervain
Canada Lily
Cardinal Flower
Wintergreen
FALL-BLOOMING
Goldenrod (e.g. Grey Goldenrod)
Asters (e.g. Frost Aster, Large-Leaved Aster, New England Aster)
White Snakeroot
Woodland Sunflower
Find Native Plants Sources
Luckily more and more plant nurseries and garden centers carry native plants these days. But if you're searching for something specific, you often need to go to a specialized native plant nursery. Here is a fantastic source of information including a Canada-wide map of native plant nurseries: networkofnature.org
Book Recommendations
A Garden for the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee - Creating Habitat for Native Pollinators, Ontario and Great Lakes Edition (2022) by Lorraine Johnson and Sheila Colla
100 Easy-to-grow Native Plants for Canadian Gardens (2013) by Lorraine Johnson
The New Ontario Naturalized Garden - The Complete Guide to Using Native Plants (2005) by Lorraine Johnson
The Regenerative Garden - 80 Projects for Creating a Self-Sustaining Garden Ecosystem (2022) by Stephanie Rose
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and Teachings of Plants (2013) by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Comments