Skip to content

Guardians of the Garden

Bee Campus at USI

The University of Southern Indiana is an affiliate of the Bee Campus USA program, an initiative led by the Xerces Society to support and protect native pollinators! Pollinators, which include bees, butterflies, birds, beetles, moths and flies, are essential for plant reproduction and overall ecosystem health. By increasing the presence of native plant species on campus, USI is helping to strengthen the population of pollinators and promote biodiversity. This program transforms the campus into a living laboratory, offering students the opportunity to do hands-on research while collaborating across disciplines and within the larger community.

USI's Bee Campus initiative includes pollinator garden installations, service-learning projects and student-led research focused on conservation and native plant support. Activities such as removing invasive species, planting native grasses and flowers and cultivating plants in the campus greenhouse all directly support pollinator habitats. Educational events are held through the Bee Campus Society on a regular basis and community partnerships help to further expand awareness. For more information contact Dr. Jason Hardgrave, jhardgrave@usi.edu.

How Can You Support Pollinators at Home?

There are many ways to transform your own yard into a pollinator-friendly habitat. General steps to follow include:

  • Choose Native Plants
    • Native plants provide genetic diversity, which is the foundation of biodiversity. Also, many native pollinator species are dependent on native plants to survive. Hybrid and non-native plants are less attractive to pollinators.
  • Control Invasive Species
    • This can be done by pulling invasive plants by hand, using specific herbicides and removing invasive insects.
  • Provide Undisturbed Areas
    • Bare and semi-bare ground provide bee nesting sites. Roughly 70% of bees are ground-nesting.
  • Create Nesting Habitat
    • Provide nesting habitat by leaving hollow plant stems intact and cutting plants back to about 12-18 inches.