Leave That Willow Bee: Pollinators Need Trees and Shrubs too! Debbie Fluegel, Illinois Program Manager

Transcription

1 Leave That Willow Bee: Pollinators Need Trees and Shrubs too! Debbie Fluegel, Illinois Program Manager

2 About Trees Forever Presentation Overview How we learned about importance of trees & forests for pollinators Specific species Q&A

3 Trees Forever Mission To plant and care for trees and the environment by empowering people, building community, and promoting stewardship.

4 25 Plus Years of Award-Winning Programs Founded in 1989 by volunteers as 501(c)3 Staff of 22 working in Iowa and Illinois with headquarters in Marion, Iowa Supported by members like you!

5 Since 1989, Trees Forever has Planted over 3.4 million trees Engages an average of 7,000 volunteers annually Provide annually avg $600,000 in grants

6 Growing Community Forests 6/3/2016 6

7 Creating Safe and Beautiful Roadways!

8 Improving Water Quality & Habitat!

9 Training Volunteer Leaders!

10 Trees provide first food source Study by Doug Tallamy, University of Delaware Top Ten Trees/shrubs and number of species that they support (his research is on Lepidoptera (moths, butterflies, etc.): 1. Quercus oaks (534) 6. Malus- crabapple (308) 2. Prunus- cherry, plum (456) 3. Salix- willow (455) 4. Betula- birch (411) 5. Populus- Poplar, cottonwood (367) 7. Vaccinium- blueberry, cranberry (294) 8. Acer- maple (297) 9. Alnus- native alder (255) 10. Carya- hickory (235) 10

11 So Many Diverse Pollinators They include: Bees native and non-native Butterflies/moths Some beetles, flies, other insects Hummingbirds and other birds Nectar-feeding bats (tropics, desert) Other vertebrates (certain lizards, lemurs, etc) Bugwood.org 11

12 Why are pollinators important? Ecosystem health Agriculture For reasons we do not know or understand

13 What pollinators need Year long forage Ideally native plants, trees and shrubs 6/3/

14 6/3/

15 Author Heather Holm s List Pollinators of Native Plants: Attract, Observe and Identify Pollinators and Beneficial Insects with Native Plants 6/3/

16 Oak (Quercus) Provides food for the caterpillars of 534 species of butterflies and moths 6/3/

17 Willow (Salix) Often considered weedy, native willows benefit pollinators by flowering early in the spring and provide important shelter and nesting sites.

18 Hickory (Carya) Hosts several butterfly and moth species, including hickory hairstreak, luna moth, and skipper butterflies.

19 Linden/Basswood (Tilia americana) Fragrant blossoms attract dozens of species of insects. Basswood honey is highly prized and one of the reasons this tree is often referred to as the bee tree.

20 Wild Plum (Prunus americana) Attracts many kinds of bees, butterflies, beetles, and flies. Tends to grow in thickets, providing more efficient foraging when in flower.

21 Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis) Does well in wet areas & in the garden. Butterflies fight to gain access to its nectar. Host plant to the promethea moth, hydrangea sphinx, & the saddleback caterpillar. 6/3/

22 Without Trees, No Woodland Wildflowers Important pollen source for insects after winter hibernation. Some springblooming woodland wildflowers also offer important nectar sources.

23 Hepatica (Hepatica nobilis var. acuta) Provides abundant pollen, which solitary bees use for their nests

24 Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica) Visited by many kinds of bees, including honey, bumble and mason bees.

25 Dutchman s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) Pollinated by queen bumble bees searching for nectar as the emerge from hibernation.

26 Large-Flowered Bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora) Offers nectar as well as pollen, unlike other woodland plants that bloom at the same time.

27 Solomon Seal (Polygonatum biflorum) Buzz-pollinated by small worker bumble bees and medium-sized digger bees.

28 Jacob s Ladder (Polemonium reptans) Blooms later in the spring, filling a void between early springblooming plants and early summer bloomers.

29 What pollinators need: Shelter Protection from weather and predators 6/3/

30 Don t be too tidy! Branches, twigs, and stems left on the ground provide overwintering protection for insects. Photo credit: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org

31 Access to Nesting Sites Pollinators are typically either ground nesters or cavity nesters (burrows inside trees) 4,000 native bee species- 70% nest in ground, travel 200 to 300 yards Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, bugwood.org 31

32 Pollinator Habitat Demonstration Sites 6/3/

33 Pollinator Habitat Demonstration Sites 6/3/

34 Over 500 Sites across Iowa & Illinois Water Quality Pollinator and Wildlife Habitat Thanks to our Sponsors! Click to edit Master title style Trees Forever Members

35 Thank you and 35