Insect Pollinators. Why are pollinators important? Why are pollinators important? Understanding and sustaining insect pollinators in your garden

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1 Understanding and sustaining insect pollinators in your garden Insect Pollinators A. Importance of pollinators B. Cast of characters C. Creating habitat Mining bee; CASM Celeste A. Searles Mazzacano, Ph.D. Presented for EMSWCD D. Sustaining habitat E. Projects & resources 2016 C. A. Searles Mazzacano yellow-faced bumble bee; Flower scarab; CASM 1 Why are pollinators important? 2 Why are pollinators important? pollination: transfer of pollen within or between flowers for fertilization, seed & fruit set wind, insects, birds, mammals honey bee; 70% of flowering plants pollinated by insects ~1,000 plants grown worldwide for food, fibers, drinks, spices, & medicine pollinated by animals Bat Conservation International most pollinated by bees Bumble bee on echinacea; Wikimedia Commons Importance of bees to food production (Wilson & Carrill, 2016) 3 4

2 Who pollinates? Who pollinates? More than bees!!!!! sand wasp; More than insects!!!!! Bats Wasps Flies Tayler/naturepl.com Hummingbirds Beetles Moths & butterflies Bee fly; 5 6 Who pollinates? Who pollinates? Much more than European honey bees!!!!! Bumble bee; Managed bees are economically important summer leafcutter bee, Crown catalog - native bees (> 4000 NA spp.) social: bumble bees honey bees, bumble bees, orchard mason bees, alfalfa leafcutter bees solitary: mining, mason, leafcutter, orchard, sweat, digger, and carpenter bees Sweat bee; CA almond grove; Kathy Keatley Garvey 7 8

3 Challenges for pollinators Challenges for pollinators Many stressors habitat loss Colony Collapse Disorder (2006) in managed honey bee hives pesticides diseases (viruses, fungi, bacteria) parasites (varroa mite, tracheal mite) fouldbrood-infected larvae; Univ. of GA many bumble bees are also declining much less known about status of other wild bees dead bees; Rodale s Varroa mite on bee pupa; Jason Graham, Univ. of FL Franklin s Bumble Bee; Dana Campbell 9 10 Challenges for pollinators managed bees may spread & intensify disease in wild bees wild bees pollinate many plants more efficiently than honey bees 11 12

4 Types of flowers pollinated vary short- vs. long-tongued bees generalist vs. specialist foragers short-tongued Sphecodes cuckoo sweat bee; Tom Murray long-tongued Eastern Bumble Bee; sankax, Flickr Social vs. solitary bees Not all bees are pollinators nest parasites (cuckoo bees) nectar robbers solitary: each female builds & provisions own nest social: shared nests, castes with different roles Coelioxys cuckoo bee; Laura Clark, inaturalist wild honey bee nest; vickbird nectar-robbing hole; mining bee; 15 16

5 Social vs. solitary bees Social vs. solitary bees Social (honey bees, bumble bees, some sweat bees) Social (honey bees, bumble bees, some sweat bees) several generations at one time in colony or nest drone & workers; Max Westby, EoL members care for offspring that aren t theirs nest may be perennial (honey bee) or annual (bumble bee) division of labor (reproduction, hive cleaning, brood care, foraging) Bumble bee nest; Panoramedia Social vs. solitary bees Social vs. solitary bees Solitary bees (mining bees, mason bees, sweat bees, plasterer bees) Solitary bees (mining bees, mason bees, sweat bees, plasterer bees) one female provisions cells in nest where she lays eggs Miner bee on nest; tunnel nesters use existing tunnels in wood or chew tunnels in pithy twigs interior of Alfalfa leafcutter bee nest board; USDA ARS aggregated, communal, semisocial ground nesters dig tunnels in patches of bare soil Colletes nest aggregation; bumblebee.org Cellophane bee brood cell;natureworks 19 20

6 Carpenter, bumble, squash, long-hroned, and honey bees (Apidae) Sweat bees (Halictidae) Mining bees (Andrenidae) Mason, carder, leaf-cutter bees (Megachilidae) Polyester & yellow-faced bees (Colletidae) Oil-collecting bees (Melittidae) Anthophora; Honey bee; Carpenter, bumble, longhorned, squash, and honey bees (Apidae) - medium to large - fuzzy/hairy - may have hair bands/ stripes - long-tongued Anthophoridae; Honey bee; Carpenter, bumble, longhorned, and honey bees (Apidae) Bumble bees (Bombus) medium to large; robust, hairy - carry pollen on hind legs - many specialists Anthophoridae; yellow, black, orange, white, or brown hair bands - most are ground-nesting - majority of parasitic bees in N. America carry pollen & nectar mix in stiff hairs (scopa) in concave basket on hind legs (corbiculum) Honey bee; Tri-colored Bumble Bee; themountaincampus, inat 23 24

7 The short-haired bumblebee project Bumble bees (Bombus) generalists on wide range of plants buzz pollination Nevada Bumble Bee; Mike Patterson, inat Annual bumble bee colony Fog-belt Bumble Bee; Cara Fitchett, inat Honey bees (Apis mellifera) Perennial honey bee colony medium size; hairy body & eyes brown/black with golden bands wild honey bee hive; generalists on a variety of flowers queen mates with drones carry pollen in corbiculae Honey bee; 27 28

8 Long-horned bees Digger bees Anthophora; Hank Wallays, EoL Sweat bees (Halictidae) Small carpenter bees Eucera; Alvesgaspar, Wikimedia Commons Melissodes; Laura Jansen Simpson, inat - range of sizes & colors - may be metallic, striped Anthophora digging out nest tunnel; Agapostemon splendens; - short-tongued Sean McCann, EoL Ceratina; Valter Jacinto, EoL Ceratina; Valter Jacinto, EoL Cuckoo bee Carpenter bees Xylocopa; Xylocopa varipunctata; Barbara Vance, inaturalist Nomada; Discover Life Dieunomia; Anne Reeves Metallic green bees Sweat bees (Halictidae) - carry pollen on hind legs Agapostemon odoratissimus; Mary Keim, EoL Sweat bees Agapostemon; Darwin Bell Nomia melanderi (alkali bee); Entomology Today - most are ground-nesting; varying sociality - specialists & generalists Lasioglossum; BioImages, Encyclopedia oflife Halictus ligatus; Ricardo Ayala, EoL Lasioglossum; Stephen Cresswell Dieunomia nevadensis; John Ascher, Discover Life Augochlora pura; Sam Kieschnick, EoL Sphecodes davisii; Ilona Loser, Discover Life Dufourea novaeangliae; Michael Veit, Discover Life Dufourea; Cory Sheffield Xeralictus; Laurence Packer, Discover Life 31 32

9 Mining bees (Andrenidae) Mining bees (Andrenidae) - range of sizes & colors - carry pollen on hind legs - may be red, orange, cream, dark blue, striped - short-tongued Protoxaea gloriosa; Robert Behrstock, Discover Life Perdita minima; Jillian Cowles, Discover Life - ground-nesting - generalists and specialists Andrena; Valter Jacinto, EoL Andrena barbilabris; Henk Wallays, EoL Andrena prima; Oklahoma Panhandle State Univ. Panurginus; Jules Barlet Leafcutter, carder, mason, and resin bees (Megachilidae) Protandrena abdominalis; Smithsonian - small to medium - moderately hairy head & thorax Andrena cerasifolii; Hartmut Wisch, Discover Life Calliopsis puellae; Lynette Schimming, Discover Life - robust; cylindrical body; yellow & black stripes/spots, brilliant metallic colors Anthidium; Anita Gould, inaturalist Macrotera; Discover Life Protoxaea; John Ascher, Discover Life 35 36

10 Leafcutter, carder, mason, and resin bees (Megachilidae) Megachile periharta; North Thurston HS Science Club, BugGuide.net Osmia ribifloris; USDA Anthidium; Miroslav Deml, EoL Megachile rotundata; spider-bite, inaturalist - carry pollen beneath abdomen - solitary nesters in existing tunnels in soil, wood, stems Lithurgopsis apicalis; Bob O Kennon, inaturalist Atoposmia copelandica; Laurence Packer, Discover Life Hoplitis hypocrita; Hartmut Wisch, Discover Life Heriades leavitti; John Ascher, Discover Life Ashmeadiella xenomastax; Hartmut Wisch, Discover Life Coelioxys sayi; John Ascher, Discover Life - many specialists Wasps Wasps Wasps vs. bees less hairy more pronounced waist brighter color patterns most are predators, but some feed young on pollen & nectar Pollen wasps (Pseudomasaris) black or brown; yellow, white or red bands; clubbed antennae generalists; prefer pollen from waterleaf & figwort families Pseudomasaris coquilletti; Mathesont 39 40

11 Wasps Flies Pollen wasps (Pseudomasaris) Pseudomasaris vespoides; Hartmut Wisch Flies vs. bees only wasps that feed young on nectar & pollen, collected in internal crop only 1 pair of wings; stick out more when perched big round eyes dominate head Villa lateralis; Linda Dahlberg, Discover Life solitary nesters Pseudomasaris vespoides nest; USDA Bee Lab shorter, thinner antennae may be bare or hairy Eristalis arbustorum; Hadel Go, Discover Life Flower flies bare or fuzzy bee & wasp mimics Flies characteristic hovering darting flight Flower flies adults eat nectar, pollen, honeydew larvae prey on aphids Flies Helophilis syrphid; Thomas Bresson Toxomerus syrphid; MJ Hatfield 43 44

12 Flies Flies Bee flies hairy, brightly-colored bumble bee mimics wings may have dark markings, stick out sideways when perched Villa bee fly; Bee flies adults eat nectar, honeydew, pollen larvae mostly external parasitoids of soil- dwelling insect larvae Chrysanthrax cypris; Royal Tyler Sinuous bee fly; Sam Kieschnick Beetles Beetles Soldier Beetles Soldier Beetles long body, soft wing covers, long antennae adults eat nectar, pollen, and other insects yellow/orange & black markings Podabrus Soldier Beetle; vncdatatech01 prefer sunflower, coneflower, goldenrod Margined Leatherwing; David Hebert velvety larvae prey on insect eggs & larvae Cantharis larva; Stanislav Krejcik Podabrus tricostatus; Robert L. Curtis, inat 47 48

13 Beetles Beetles Longhorned Beetles large, oblong body very long antennae often bright colors/patterns Banded Alder Borer; Blister Beetles medium to large; dark, elongated,cylindrical body some with bright warning colors wing cases rolled over abdomen Meloe strigulosus; Locust Borer; Patrick Coin Red-eared Blister Beeetle; Ken-ichi Uchida Beetles Beetles Blister Beetles Flower Scarabs adults feed on nectar & pollen, esp. aster, pea, & sunflower families larvae parasitic on groundnesting bees triungulins awaiting bees; John Walters Black Blister Beetle; Bruce Marlin, EoL medium to large; broad, slightly flattened body flower scarabs often brightly colored, bee mimics antennae end in club made of small plates Kern s Flower Scarab; Blister Beetle; Patrick Coin Bumble Flower Beetle; 51 52

14 Beetles Beetles Flower Scarabs Checkered Beetle adults feed on pollen small to medium larvae feed on roots, organic mater in soil, decaying wood Texas Flower Scarab; vadalton, inaturalist long, narrow, hairy body often patterned in red, yellow, orange, or blue Enoclerus eximius; Delta Flower Scarab; Patrick Coin, EoL Beetles Beetles Checkered Beetle Soft-winged Flower Beetle adults & larvae prey on bark beetles, weevils, wood-boring insects adults of some species eat pollen Ornate Checkered Beetle; Ken-ichi Ueda, inaturalist small; dark hairy body bright red/orange markings some have inflatable sacs along abdomen Endeodes collaris; European Red-bellied Clerid; Jürgen Mangelsdorf, inaturalist Four-spotted Collops; Ken-ichi Ueda, inaturalist 55 56

15 Beetles Beetles Soft-winged Flower Beetle adults eat flower-visiting insects and pollen larvae are predators in soil, leaf litter, under bark Scarlet Malachite Beetle; Jason Michael Crockwell, inaturalist Tumbling Flower Beetle small, humpbacked, wedge-shaped body pointy abdomen not covered by wings dark, hairy, some with light spots or bands Hoshihananomia perlata; Stanislav Ktejcik, EoL Anthocomus; oldbilluk, inaturalist Mordellistena comata; kimberlietx, inaturalist Beetles Moths & Butterflies Tumbling Flower Beetle Butterflies adults are predators, also eat pollen thin antennae with club or hook at tip prefer composite flowers day-flying Western Pine Elfin; larvae in decaying wood, plant stems, fungi wings held vertically when perched Falsomordellistena hebraica; Katja Schulz, inaturalist Zabulon Skipper; 59 60

16 Butterflies Moths & Butterflies long straw-like proboscis to feed on nectar Moths feathery antennae often night-flying Moths & Butterflies visit variety of flowers not specialized to collect or transfer pollen Queen butterfly; wings held rooflike or flat against surface when perched White-banded Black Moth; Red-spotted Purple; LeConte s Haploa; Moths Moths & Butterflies can be important pollinators of nightblooming plants Moths Moths & Butterflies hawk moths, owlets, underwings, geometers, many others Yucca and Primrose moths highly specialized Primrose Moth; Susan Elliott White-lined Sphinx; Mary Keim Blinded Sphinx; Yucca Moth; Ann Cooper Grapevine Epimenis; Xestia mustelina; 63 64

17 Creating habitat Planting for pollinators Nectar & pollen sources - diverse - long bloom time - native plants Flower Fly; Pat Reed - species groupings - low & tall plants Portland OR; Sweat bees swarming red osier dogwood; Flowers for bees Planting for pollinators purple, yellow, blue flowers; often sweet scent nectar-rich landing platform Planting for pollinators Flowers for bees may reflect UV light can have nectar guides often with bilateral symmetry Foxglove; Small-flowered penstemon; Paul Noll day lily, visible vs. UV light; David Kennedy checkermallow; Portland Nursery 67 68

18 Flowers for bees Planting for pollinators short-tongued bees prefer clusters of tiny flowers (herbs, daisy, marigold, phlox Phlox; Flowers for bees Planting for pollinators long-tongued bees can access tubular flowers (penstemon, foxglove) Seep monkeyflower (Mimulus guttatus); Russ Kleinman English thyme; milkandhoneyherbs Fleabane (Erigeron); Max Licher Grand Collomia; Mark Turner Woodland Penstemon; Lyn Topinka Planting for pollinators Flowers for beetles dull white, green, or reddish flowers; can smell fruity, spicy, or bad open bowl shape; may lack nectar magnolia, aster, sunflower, rose, goldenrod, Spirea Prickly Poppy; CASM Flowers for flies Planting for pollinators small shallow flowers drab; pale or brown/purple bad odor red trillium, elderberry, skunk cabbage Tachninid on catmint; Beatriz Moisset, USDA Magnolia; Portland Nursery Red trillium; USDA Plants 71 72

19 Planting for pollinators Flowers for butterflies composite flowers orange, yellow, pink, blue Planting for pollinators Flowers for moths white or pale flowers in clusters Clearwing on Blazing Star; TG Barnes, Univ. of KY perching platform light scent honeysuckle, lily, sages, trumpet flower Showy Milkweed; 73 Blanketflower; Funereal Duskywing; open late afternoon or night strong sweet smell honeysuckle, primrose, stock 74 Joshua Tree; Marisa Anderson, USDA Beyond the bloom Beyond the bloom water & nutrients - safe access for small insects - puddling sources for butterflies sun - warming in the morning Western Tiger Swallowtails puddling for minerals; shelter & nesting sites - dead snags (mason & leafcutter bees) - rotting logs (sweat bees, flower flies) - old rodent burrows (bumble bees) - refuge in the afternoon standing dead tree; 75 76

20 Beyond the bloom Beyond the bloom shelter & nesting sites - rock & brush piles (beetles, caterpillars, pupae) Nesting & egg-laying sites - bare soil (miner bees) - undisturbed soil (groundnesting bees, beetle & fly larvae) - grass clumps (bumble bees; nesting & overwintering) brush pile; - snags (leafcutter & mason bees) - grass tussocks, brush piles (bumble bees) Miner bees; fescue; Bumble bee nest in leaf pile; Al Eggenberger Beyond the bloom Sustaining habitat Nesting & egg-laying sites - stem bundles (teasel, bamboo, plastic straws - bee blocks - open at 1 end only - tunnels <1 4 diameter, 3-5 deep; if >1 4, then 5-6 deep Leafcutter bees in block; Kathy Keatley Garvey/UC Davis Integrated pest management (IPM): ecosystem-based strategy long-term prevention of pests/damage using multiple techniques - biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, use of resistant varieties - preserves natural system as much as possible Osmia rufa in nesting tube; BioImages 79 80

21 Sustaining habitat Sustaining habitat Reduce/eliminate pesticides - disrupt natural enemies - pests faster to disperse & re-colonize treated areas than natural enemies Reduce/eliminate pesticides - removing natural enemies may allow addtional pests to establish - non-lethal levels can impair reproduction, foraging Oleander aphids on rush milkweed; Oleander aphids on rush milkweed; 81 Creating & maintaining habitat 82 Sustaining habitat use pesticides use only after monitoring indicates need treat with goal of removing target organism only Oleander aphids on rush milkweed; build healthy soil proper plant placement & irrigation plant mostly natives Cluster Rose; minimize risks to human health, non-target organisms, & environment scout your gardens Black Twinberry; 83 84

22 Sustaining habitat Resources tolerate some damage use multiple compatible methods if pesticides necessary, select most suitable, timely, selective, least toxic to non-targets Oregon grape; Resources Resources stelprdb pdf Koch, Strange, & Williams; USFS entomology.oregonstate.edu free $3.99 Great Sunflower Project Encyclopedia of Life 87 88

23 Resources Projects greatsunflower.org bumblebeewatch.org Questions? Celeste A. Searles Mazzacano, Visit emswcd.org to find additional workshops and resources! Yellow-faced Bumble Bee; Netwinged Beetle, Flower scarabs; Western Swallowtail, Copyright 2016 Celeste A. Searles Mazzacano. All rights reserved. This presentation or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author