Last updated March 2, 2026.

Brown-belted Bumblebee Preparing for Flight. Photo by Judy Gallagher.

Virginia’s native pollinators are crucial in supporting our native plants, wildlife, and natural areas. More than 75% of flowering plants and crops require pollinators, such as bees, birds, and butterflies, to transfer pollen between plants. This helps plants and crops produce seeds and fruit, helping them survive while also providing food for wildlife and people. By helping plants reproduce, native pollinators play a role in maintaining habitats for wildlife, cleaning our air, and supporting soil health.

Yet, native pollinators are increasingly at risk. Habitat loss, pesticide use, and extreme drought and weather events threaten their survival. Non-native pollinators also threaten native pollinators by competing for food and other resources, further displacing them. With these growing threats, we must continue raising awareness of our native pollinators and their impact.

The brown-belted bumblebee is a strong choice for Virginia’s state native pollinator, being found in all regions of Virginia. Through buzz pollination, they shake flowering plants and crops to gather and transfer pollen. Buzz pollination is necessary for many crops important to Virginia farmers including tomatoes, blueberries, eggplants, and others, which many non-native pollinators cannot do.

Legislators have introduced a bill that recognizes the brown-belted bumblebee as the official state native pollinator:

See the real time updates from Virginia’s Legislative Information System (LIS) on the bill tracker below: