Commissioner Miller Celebrates National Pollinator Week

National Pollinator Week highlights the critical role pollinators play in agriculture and conservation.

AUSTIN – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller welcomed National Pollinator Week, June 22-28, by encouraging Texans to appreciate the bees, butterflies, birds, bats, and other pollinators that help sustain Texas agriculture and the state's natural landscapes.

More than 75 percent of the world's flowering plants and approximately three-quarters of the world's leading food crops depend, at least in part, on animal pollination. Pollinators transfer pollen between flowers, making possible the production of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and countless other crops.

“Pollinators are essential to Texas agriculture and our food supply,” Commissioner Miller said. “From the fruits and vegetables on our tables to the forage crops that support livestock production, pollinators help keep our farms productive and our economy strong. Many of the foods Texans enjoy every day simply would not exist without them.”

Texas is home to a remarkable diversity of pollinators, including carpenter bees, the Western honey bee, ruby-throated hummingbirds, bats, and hundreds of species of butterflies, moths, beetles, and other beneficial insects.

The Lone Star State boasts the greatest butterfly diversity in the nation and serves as a critical migration corridor for the iconic Monarch butterfly. Texas is also home to numerous swallowtail butterfly species, including the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail, and Giant Swallowtail, the largest butterfly in North America.

These species provide tremendous value to agriculture. Honey bees and other pollinators support the production of many commercially grown crops, including watermelons, citrus, squash, cucumbers, berries, and numerous specialty crops. Even crops such as cotton, which are primarily self-pollinating, can benefit from insect pollination through improved yields and fiber quality.

“Pollinators do far more than support agriculture,” Commissioner Miller said. “Whether it's the flash of a butterfly's wings, the hum of a hummingbird, or the work of a honey bee in a field, these remarkable creatures enrich our landscapes, strengthen our ecosystems, and help keep Texas beautiful.”

National Pollinator Week is an annual celebration organized by Pollinator Partnership, a nonprofit organization dedicated to pollinator conservation, education, and research. This year's theme, 'Life on a Leaf: Celebrating Caterpillars and Host Plants,' highlights the native plants that support butterflies and moths throughout their life cycles. The campaign also recognizes swallowtail butterflies as the 2026 Pollinator of the Year.

Commissioner Miller encourages Texans to support pollinator health by:

• Planting native flowering plants that provide nectar and pollen throughout the growing season.
• Incorporating native host plants that support butterflies and caterpillars during all stages of development.
• Using pesticides responsibly and always following label directions.
• Providing clean water sources and preserving natural habitat areas when possible.
• Supporting local beekeepers and conservation efforts that protect pollinator habitat.

To learn more about pollinator conservation and the Texas Department of Agriculture's efforts to support healthy ecosystems, visit the Texas Department of Agriculture website.

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