When can I get a plate?
Now! You can order them from:
How much does the plate cost?
Beginning July 2016, the plates will be $25. $10 goes to the DMV (as with all special plates); $15 will go to VDOT’s new Pollinator Habitat Program, which will provide valuable pollinator habitats in roadside medians and at rest stops!
For more information,
Why is there no bat on the design?
While bats are wonderful pollinators, I wanted to keep the critters on this plate local to Virginia. We have bats in Virginia, of course, but they’re carnivores- they eat insects- and because of this, they aren’t considered pollinators. Pollinating bats eat fruit and nectar and are found in more tropical areas.
Why do we need to protect pollinators?
One reason that everyone can identify with: Pollinators are crucial to our food supply.
About 1/3 of the food we eat depends on pollination. This is mainly accomplished by bees- native bees (bumble bees, orchard mason bees, etc.) and honeybees (which aren’t native). Most people have heard by now that honeybees are in decline, but many are not aware that native pollinators are, too.
Another reason that native pollinators are especially important is because they’re crucial for our ecosystems to thrive. They pollinate wild flowers, which then make seeds, which are then eaten by birds and small animals, which are eaten by other animals, and so forth- right up the food chain.
What can I do right now to protect pollinators?
* Stop using chemicals, especially pesticides (but also fertilizers) on your lawn and garden.
* Plant for pollinators- choose plants that bloom at various times of the year so there is always some nectar in your garden. Bees are active in early spring and very late fall, not just the summer.
* Choosing native plants will support the native bees in the area, too.
* Provide nesting sites. Leave some areas of your flower beds unmulched for ground-dwelling bees. You can also provide a home for non-stinging native bees with a bee house.