Flower flies, also called hoverflies or syrphid flies, are harmless, beneficial insects famous for hovering like hummingbirds and mimicking bees or wasps.

The ruby-throated hummingbird is a tiny, fast flying bird and the only species of hummingbird that regularly breeds in eastern North America

Monarch butterflies are famous for their long-distance migration, poisonous defense, and milkweed diet 

Swallowtail butterflies are some of the most eye-catching pollinators in Ohio, with bold colors and unique tail-shaped wings. As they visit flowers for nectar, they help pollinate plants and support a healthy ecosystem. You can often spot species like the Eastern tiger swallowtail in gardens, where they play an important role in keeping pollinator habitats thriving.

Skippers might be small, but they’re quick, energetic pollinators you’ll often see darting from flower to flower. They get their name from the way they “skip” through the air, making them easy to spot once you know what to look for. Even though they’re not as flashy as some butterflies, skippers play an important role in pollinating plants and helping gardens thrive.

Clearwing moths might look like tiny hummingbirds, but they’re actually moths! With their fast wingbeats and ability to hover in front of flowers, they feed on nectar during the day and help pollinate plants as they go. Because they’re often mistaken for hummingbirds, spotting one in the garden is a fun reminder that pollinators come in all shapes and sizes.

Beetles may not be the first insects you think of as pollinators, but many species play an important role in helping plants reproduce. As they move between flowers looking for food, they carry pollen with them, supporting a healthy ecosystem. You might spot beetles like soldier beetles in gardens, quietly doing their part to keep pollinator habitats thriving.

Bumblebees are some of the most familiar and important pollinators in Ohio, known for their fuzzy bodies and gentle buzzing. That fuzzy coating actually helps them pick up and carry pollen from flower to flower as they feed on nectar. You’ll often see them slowly moving between blooms, playing a big role in helping gardens and wild plants grow.

Mason bees are gentle, solitary, cavity-nesting insects belonging to the genus Osmia that do not make honey, have no queen, and act as super-efficient spring pollinators 

Leafcutter bees are solitary, highly efficient garden pollinators known for cutting neat, circular pieces out of leaves and petals to line their nests 

Mining bees are solitary, ground-nesting insects belonging to the family Andrenidae, that excavate underground tunnels for their nests, appearing as small dirt mounds in lawns

Pollinator bees come in many different shapes and sizes, and most of them are native to Ohio. Unlike honey bees, many native bees live alone and quietly go about their work, collecting nectar and pollen to support both plants and their own nests. Even though they’re easy to overlook, these bees are some of the most effective pollinators, helping flowers, gardens, and ecosystems thrive.

The rusty patched bumblebee is an endangered North American insect famed for the small rust-colored patch on the second abdominal segment of workers and males. Once common across 28 states and parts of Canada, its population has plummeted by roughly 87% since the late 1990s.

The Karner blue butterfly is a small, bright blue butterfly that was once found in parts of Ohio but has disappeared from the state. It depends on a single plant — wild lupine — to survive, which makes it especially vulnerable to habitat loss. Today, it is federally endangered and serves as an important reminder of how closely pollinators are tied to specific native plants. It was last recorded in Ohio in the late 1980s to early 1990s. 

The frosted elfin is a rare, small gossamer-wing butterfly with a 1 to 1.3-inch wingspan. It features dark brown upper wingspan. It features dark brown upper wings and grayish-brown lower wings dusted with white "frosting" and a distinct black spot. It is now considered endangered in Ohio, as the plants that it relies upon -- wild indigo and lupine -- disappear.