A Case of Mistaken Identity

Transcription

1 It is the yellow jacket we see buzzing around trash cans and drinking our sodas. That is because an adult yellow jacket finds our sweetened diet appealing. A wasp, the yellow jacket is a formidable force to deal with for those who approach its colony. However, the yellow jacket is one of the good guys because it preys on non-beneficial insects in our garden. By Derrick Ditchburn, via Wikimedia Commons Many of us who fear being stung by a bee are running from the wrong insect! Bees are docile. Male bees do not have stingers and remain in the nest, and females will only defend themselves when severely threatened. By Derrick Ditchburn, via Wikimedia Commons A Case of Mistaken Identity

2 Goldenrod Ragweed It is the air-borne pollens that cause the problems, and the largest producer is ragweed. Ragweed pollen is credited with causing 90% of pollen-induced allergies in the United States. It blooms at the same time as goldenrod, but its flowers are green and far less showy so we don t notice it. Next time you are admiring the bright yellow flowers of a goldenrod, look at its feet to find the real culprit: ragweed! By Liz West (goldenrod), via Wikimedia Commons Goldenrod, and many other native meadow plants that are blooming during hay fever season, are unjustly accused of making us sneeze. Goldenrod disperses its pollen with the help of bees, and that pollen is directly deposited in the nest for young bees to eat. By Krzysztof Ziarnek Kenraiz (own work), via Wikimedia Commons Goldenrod Gets a Bad Rap

3 Research to date does not point to a primary cause of CCD, leading scientists to believe that multiple factors are the culprit. These include habitat loss, nutritional stress, escalating pesticide use, viruses and other pathogens. The rising demand for pollination of large monoculture crops and the necessary crosscountry transportation of colonies to meet the demand further exacerbate those stress factors. By Oregon Department of Transportation CCD is a syndrome that is causing the European honey bee to suddenly and mysteriously disappear from their hives, abandoning the queen, food supplies and brood in the nest. This rapid decline was noted in the winter of 2006/2007 and every winter since. By Waugsberg (Eigene Aufnahme - own photograph), via Wikimedia Commons What is Colony Collapse Disorder?

4 Leafcutter bee While we watch European honey bee colonies collapse, we are also witnessing the decline of the native bee population. Native bees are facing unprecedented habitat loss, pesticide threats and introduced disease. Mason bee Bumblebee Over 4,000 species of native bees were buzzing around when Europeans brought the honey bee to North America in These natives include bumble bees, mason bees, leaf cutting bees, sweat bees, and mining bees. Many of these natives are more efficient crop pollinators than non-native honey bees, especially for fruits and vegetables such as onions, tomatoes, cranberries and blueberries. Image by Lynn.art (own work), via Wikimedia Commons The Other Bees

5 Turning it Around We can... continue to support the Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service as they work with farmers to restore erodible land to native bee habitat. We can... encourage transportation agencies and utility companies to plant native wildflowers along roadsides and utility easements. We can... reduce pesticide use by replacing it with Integrated Pest Management practices. We can... plant bee-friendly landscapes in our homes and schools, even at the window box scale. Every little bit helps!

6 One Out of Three Top 10 BeePollinated Foods! That is how many bites of our food in the United States that are directly related to pollination by bees. So thank a bee the next time you enjoy a crisp apple, toasted almonds, the season s first tomato, a juicy beefsteak or delicious milkshake. Wait a minute... beef and milk? One of the important hay crops we feed our dairy and beef cattle is alfalfa, which is pollinated by bees. Apples Almonds Blueberries Cherries Avocados Cucumbers Onions Grapefruits Oranges Pumpkins

7 Flower Power Sage Black-eyed Susan French Marigold By Dcoetzee, via Wikimedia Commons By Daniel Schwen, via Wikimedia Commons Plants have adapted in several ways to entice pollinators to visit their blossoms. They offer a taste of sweet nectar in exchange for pollen transfer on the bee s body. Like the flowers on Trent Bridge, they put forth blue, purple, yellow and orange blooms - a bee s favorite color selection. And they have learned that an open symmetrical bloom, like that of the French marigold, makes it easier for bees of all shapes and sizes to do their job. Some flowers even guide visitors to the heart of the nectar stash with ultra-violet trail!

8 By Pahazzard (own work), via Wikimedia Commons Queen building a nest Worker bee gathering pollen Of the 45 species of bumble bees in North America, all are social nesters. In the spring, the over-wintered queen emerges to forage for pollen and nectar and search for a nest. Once she establishes a nest, she begins laying eggs for her first brood. These worker bees forage for her and her brood while she lays eggs and rears young. In late summer, the colony switches from producing worker bees to producing new queens and males. In late autumn, the males die and the new queens find a site just below the soil surface to over-winter. By Pahazzard (own work), via Wikimedia Commons The Social Bumble Bee

9 To invite wood-nesters: Plant shrubs with pithy stems, such as elderberry, raspberry, blackberry, dogwood and sumac. Purchase or build a bee box or stem bundle. Mason bee on an apple blossom About 30% of our 4,000 native bees, including mason bees and leafcutter bees, build their solitary nests inside hollow tunnels. By Red58bill (own work), via Wikime- Most native bees are solitary nesters. Female bees prepare their own nests, gather nectar and pollen as food for their offspring, and provide no care once their eggs hatch. By Robert Engelhardt (own work), via Wikimedia Commons Solitary Wood-Nesting Bees

10 To welcome ground-nesters: Avoid turning over soil since their brood spends eleven months underground. Create a stable pile of soil that contains about 1/3 sand and is at least two feet high. If necessary, contain the pile with lumber or bricks. Sweat bees, which are ground nesters, are the most populated species of native bees. About 70% of our native bees excavate their nests underground. These ground nesters will burrow narrow tunnels down to small chambers, or brood cells, where next year s bees develop. In order for female bees to be able to build these nests, they must have direct access to the soil surface, often on a sloped or well-drained site. By Hectonichus (own work), via Wikimedia Commons Solitary Ground-Nesting Bees

11 Bumble bees, as well as some solitary bees, have learned to grab onto the flower and move their flight muscles rapidly so that the sonic disturbance will cause the pollen to dislodge. This is called buzz pollination or sonification. About eight percent of the flowers of the world are primarily pollinated in this fashion. Some of our tastiest food - tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, blueberries and cranberries - comes from plants with a tubular flower and anthers that hold the pollen firmly in place. These plants are dependent upon a small group of bees to get the job done, and the fuzzy and colorful bumble bee has risen to the challenge! By Alvesgaspar (own work), via Wikimedia Commons What s the Buzz?