Native Plants for Native Pollinators

Native Plants for Native Pollinators Presented by Dr. Ed Spevak This talk explores the incredible diversity of native pollinators, from bees and butterflies to beetles, birds, and even flies. Dr. Ed Spevak explains how these keystone species support our ecosystems, habitats, and food systems, and why native plants are essential to their survival. Learn how you can support pollinators by rewilding your yard and community spaces with native plants that provide food, shelter, and resilience. About the Presenter: Dr. Ed Spevak has dedicated more than 44 years to the conservation of invertebrates and vertebrates, working as a zoo curator and small population biologist. He is the Curator of Invertebrates at the Saint Louis Zoo and Director of the Zoo’s WildCare Institute Center for Native Pollinator Conservation (CNPC). Dr. Spevak and the Saint Louis Zoo helped establish the IUCN SSC Bumble Bee Specialist Group, the Honey Bee Health Coalition, Farmers for Monarchs, and Missourians for Monarchs Collaborative. Through CNPC, he also leads the Native Foods, Native Peoples, Native Pollinators program, which connects food security, food sovereignty, and pollinator conservation with Native American communities. Topics covered include: --Native bees, butterflies, beetles, birds, and flies --Keystone pollinators and ecosystem health --Rewilding landscapes with native plants --How individuals and communities can make a difference