Improve Floral Diversity for Bees. Debbie Roos North Carolina Cooperative Extension

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1 Improve Floral Diversity for Bees Debbie Roos North Carolina Cooperative Extension 1

2 Outline All about Bees Principles of Planting a Bee Garden Demonstration Pollinator Gardens Web Resources Pollination Worldwide, approximately 1,000 plants grown for food, beverages, fiber, spices, and medicines need to be pollinated by animals in order to produce the goods on which we depend. 2

honey bees & bumble bees for honey production Sweat bee on

3 Bees are the most important pollinators Bees deliberately gather pollen to feed brood Nectar is consumed for energy & collected by honey bees & bumble bees for honey production Sweat bee on coneflower Scanning electron micrograph of honey bee head covered with pollen 3

& Canada ~ 500 native bee species in NC Native Bees Most species are solitary so not aggressive

4 Bees * Bees * Bees Honey bees native to Europe Native bees - ~ 3,600 species of bees native to the U.S. & Canada ~ 500 native bee species in NC Native Bees Most species are solitary so not aggressive and don t sting 70% of native bees nest in the ground Bumble bee nest Most of the rest are cavity nesters (bumble bees, leafcutter bees, mason bees, etc.) Leafcutter bee ( 4

5 Bumble Bee on Downy Wood Mint Insect Hotel at the Pollinator Garden 5

6 Ground Nesting Mining Bees March 10 April 14 6

7 Ground-nesting Chimney Bees Chimney Bees 7

Chimney Bees Native Bees are Efficient Pollinators ~250 mason bees are required to pollinate an acre of apples compared to two hives of honey bees Many species of native bees are more active in

8 Chimney Bees Native Bees are Efficient Pollinators ~250 mason bees are required to pollinate an acre of apples compared to two hives of honey bees Many species of native bees are more active in cold, wet conditions & low light Bumble bees and other native bees practice buzz pollination Some native bees specialize in one type of flower Pollen gathered by native bees is very accessible 8

Native Bees as Crop Pollinators If enough natural habitat is nearby to support them, native bees can provide much or even all the pollination services for crops Over 50 species of native bees visit

9 Native Bees as Crop Pollinators If enough natural habitat is nearby to support them, native bees can provide much or even all the pollination services for crops Over 50 species of native bees visit watermelon, sunflower, or tomato crops in CA Over 80 species of bees pollinate berry crops in MN and MA Native pollinators have been shown to nearly triple the production of cherry tomatoes in CA Southeastern Blueberry Bee 9

10 Diversity of Native Bees Sweat Bee & Bumble Bee beardtongue Bumble Bee licorice hyssop 10

11 Mining Bee Leafcutter Bee 11

12 Leafcutter Bee Nests Hibiscus Bee rose mallow 12

13 Sweat Bee Cuckoo-leafcutter Bee on Oxeye Daisy 13

14 Sunflower Bee on Blazing Star Carpenter Bees on Passionflower 14

15 Carpenter-mimic Leafcutter Bee on Butterfly Weed Two-spotted Longhorned Bee on Zinnia 15

16 Sweat Bee on Joe-pye Weed Sweat Bee Bat-faced Cuphea 16

17 How Can We Help Our Honey Bees? 17

18 (Partial) Report Findings & Recommendations Nutrition has a major impact on individual bee and colony longevity. A nutrition-poor diet can make bees more susceptible to harm from disease and parasites. Bees need better forage and a variety of plants to support colony health. Federal and state partners should consider actions affecting land management to maximize available nutritional forage to promote and enhance good bee health and to protect bees by keeping them away from pesticide-treated fields. Nectar & Pollen 18

Many studies have shown polyfloral pollen diets are superior to a single species of pollen, with perhaps one exception: rapeseed/canola (Brassica napus) Average hive collects approx. 50-120 lbs.

19 Many studies have shown polyfloral pollen diets are superior to a single species of pollen, with perhaps one exception: rapeseed/canola (Brassica napus) Average hive collects approx lbs. pollen/year Polyfloral Diet A deficiency in quantity and quality of pollen and nectar can lead to decline in bee populations (brood rearing decreases and life span of workers declines) Research shows the importance of pollen quality and diversity on the immune response of honey bees Poor nutrition compromised immune system colony decline 19

20 When considering the nutritional requirements of honey bees, remember: variety, variety, variety! So what can you do to improve bee forage? 20

21 Pollinators are essential components of the habitats and ecosystems that many wild animals rely on for food and shelter. As landscapes are converted from wild to managed lands, pollinator habitat is destroyed or fragmented, resulting in the loss of foraging, nesting, and/or egg-laying sites. Assess your Existing Bee Forage Habitat Natural areas/woodlands Wildflowers/weeds Crops & cover crops Landscape plantings 21

Identify Dearth Times in Bloom Calendar Try and identify the dearth

plants are already present and when do they bloom?

plants flowering throughout the growing season, early spring-late

22 Identify Dearth Times in Bloom Calendar Try and identify the dearth times in the natural bloom calendar in your area which pollinator plants are already present and when do they bloom? Identify pollinator plants that bloom during these dearth times Have plants flowering throughout the growing season, early spring-late fall, with overlapping bloom periods Natural Areas & Woodlands Redbud Tulip poplar Red maple 22

23 Redbud Natural Areas & Woodlands Blackberry Willow Sourwood 23

24 Wildflowers & Weeds Beggarticks Clover Dandelion Henbit Foraging Can Be Hazardous! Crownbeard 24

25 Crops & Cover Crops Blueberry Cucumber Buckwheat Strawberry Crimson clover Cool Season: Canola/rape Cover Crops for Bees Crimson clover Hairy vetch Austrian winter pea Warm season: Buckwheat Cowpea Sunflower 25

26 Plant for Pollinators! Seeded meadows/cover crops Hedgerows Pollinator gardens Direct-seeded Pollinator Meadows Site selection Site preparation Plant selection Planting techniques Ongoing management See Xerces publication Establishing Pollinator Meadows from Seed 26

27 Other seed companies are linked on my GSF website Hedgerows Diverse mixture of trees and shrubs (and sometimes grasses and forbs) planted in a row to mark a border and provide habitat for wildlife Can be managed or wild 27

Pollinator Gardens Plant Selection Use mostly perennials as these tend to have richer nectar sources and provide a dependable food source Straight species vs.

28 Pollinator Gardens Plant Selection Use mostly perennials as these tend to have richer nectar sources and provide a dependable food source Straight species vs. cultivars: which is better? Important to have a diversity of flower size, shape, and color to attract pollinators of different sizes Include native bunch grasses for nesting habitat and winter interest 28

29 Plant Selection: Flower Diversity Bumble Bee on Hyssop 29

30 Bumble Bee on Cardinal Flower Be Careful with Invasive Plants! Sweet autumn clematis 30

31 Plant Selection: Native Plants Emphasize local native plants: research has shown that native plants are 4 times more likely than nonnative plants to attract native bees Native plant genera support 3 times as many species of butterflies and moths as introduced plants Ex.: joe-pye weed and butterfly bush both attract butterflies but only the native joe-pye weed supports over 3 dozen species of Lepidopterans Plant Selection Design for constant color, interest, and forage! Focus on WORKHORSE plants that are appealing for at least 3 seasons: Long bloom period Food and shelter for pollinators & wildlife Pleasant fragrance and/or feel Nice foliage texture Seasonal interest: fall color, interesting bark, seed heads, berries, winter interest 31

32 Seasonal Interest: Fall Seasonal Interest: Winter 32

33 WORKHORSE: Bluestar WORKHORSE: Oakleaf Hydrangea 33

Garden INSTALLATION Fall is the best time for planting but can do it year-round Optimal ph for perennial flower bed is 6.2-6.

34 Garden INSTALLATION Fall is the best time for planting but can do it year-round Optimal ph for perennial flower bed is Do site prep to remove weeds/turf and improve soil; incorporate 3-6 of compost before planting Apply 3-4 of mulch after planting Need to make sure garden gets sufficient irrigation the first year after planting until established Have AT LEAST 3-5 species blooming during each season spring-fall Group smaller plants together to maximize foraging efficiency 34

35 Fill Those Dearth Periods of Bloom! If you look at the What s in Bloom List on my website, you can see my pollinator garden has: 67 different species blooming in late July 55 different species blooming in mid- September 41 different species blooming in early November I have multiple species of plants like aster and goldenrod to extend their bloom period Garden MAINTENANCE Balance having attractive garden with leaving food & shelter Stay on top of weeds year-round! Deadhead flowers to prolong blooming or to improve appearance but make sure and leave some seed for the birds! Divide, relocate, or replace plants when needed Cut back plants before spring growth begins (leave through fall/winter for shelter) Replenish mulch annually in the spring 35

36 Deadheading Example: Gaillardia BEFORE AFTER End of Part 1 36

Value of native bees to agriculture

Value of native bees to agriculture Native bees pollinated approximately $3 billion of crops in the year 2000 There are approximately 4,000 species of native bees in North America, hundreds of which contribute