Smart Gardening for Pollinators

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1 Smart Gardening for Pollinators Abi Saeed MSU Extension Master Gardener College (2016)

2 North American Honey bees have European Origin Brought by early colonists in the early 1600s

3 Besides managed honey bees 4000 species of wild native bees also provide pollination services in the USA!

4 and nearly 450 species recorded in Michigan

5 Bumble bees (Apidae) Mason bees, leafcutter bees (Megachilidae) Types of Wild Bees Sweat Bees (Halictidae) Mining bees (Andrenidae)

6 Types of Wild Bees Bumble bees (Apidae)

7 Types of Wild Bees Carpenter bees (Apidae)

8 Types of Wild Bees Mason bees, leafcutter bees, digger bees (Megachilidae)

9 Types of Wild Bees Sweat Bees (Halictidae)

10 Types of Wild Bees Mining bees (Andrenidae)

11 Pollination is Beneficial to the Insect and the Plant The Insect gets food The plant increases probability of successful reproduction Flowers have changed their anatomy to make it easy for pollen to be picked up and moved!!

12 Flowers like to cater to their Pollinators Since bees can see certain colors better than others (including UV), bee-pollinated flowers often have UV markings Flowers that like to cater to beetles and flies are shallower, allowing these insects to get to the nectar/pollen more easily

13 Some are generalists

14 Some are extremely specialized! Very specific relationship between two organisms Plants sometimes trick these insects into visiting them!

15 The Mystery of Darwin s Star Orchid

16 Darwin s Hawk Moth!

17 A Beautiful Partnership!

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19 80% of Plant Species Depend on Animals for Pollination Bees are the MOST IMPORTANT Pollinators!

20 Bees are Pollen Specialists! Branched hairs!

21 Why should we care? Pollination services to U.S. Agriculture is valued at $20 billion/year

22 U. S. grows 100 crops dependent on pollination

23 Your produce selection without bees: Produce selection with bees Produce selection without bees

24 Besides bees Several other groups of insects!

25 Besides insects Birds, Mammals, Reptiles!

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27 with bees without bees

28 Wildlife! Bees support native plant communities that provide food for wildlife (birds, mammals, etc.)

29 The beauty in our gardens!

30 Why are ALL bees declining? Management practices

31 Why are ALL bees declining? Habitat loss!

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33 What do bees need? Low chemical input Food Nesting Habitat

34 What do bees need? Low chemical input Food Nesting Habitat

35 70% of Pesticide use is for Aesthetic Reasons

36 99% of bugs in your garden are BENEFICIAL

37 Safeguard bees when using insecticides Follow label precautions DON T overspray plants in bloom Mow or prune off oversprayed blooms Choose products that are relatively non-hazardous to bees

38 New EPA Bee Advisory Box

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40 Safeguard bees when using insecticides Follow label precautions DON T overspray plants in bloom Mow or prune off oversprayed blooms Choose products that are relatively non-hazardous to bees

41 What Can You Do to Help Pollinators? Do NOT spray flowers in bloom, and avoid pesticide drift to adjacent plants Read and follow label directions

42 Sprays versus granular applications No adverse effects Larson et al. (2013)

43 Safeguard bees when using insecticides Follow label precautions DON T overspray plants in bloom Mow or prune off oversprayed blooms Choose products that are relatively non-hazardous to bees

44 If using systemic insecticides, common sense practices can greatly reduce hazard: Prune (e.g., boxwoods) to remove blooms after spraying with Wait until after bloom if treating for scales, leafminers, lace bugs

45 If using systemic insecticides, common sense practices can greatly reduce hazard: Mow (e.g., lawns) to remove flower heads from lawn weeds (eg., clover, dandelion, etc.)

46 Safeguard bees when using insecticides Follow label precautions DON T overspray plants in bloom Mow or prune off oversprayed blooms Choose products that are relatively non-hazardous to bees

47 What Can You Do to Help Pollinators? Choose green insecticides if spraying to control pests on or around flowering plants Read and follow label directions

48 What Can You Do to Help Pollinators? Know WHEN to spray, and if it will be worth the risk to bees. Can the situation be managed in other ways?

49 What do bees need? Low chemical input Food Nesting Habitat

50 What do wild bees need? Nest sites Undisturbed soil Access to that soil Old stems Soft leaves Rodent burrows Compost piles Constructed nests Non-toxic nest material Floral resources

51 What do wild bees need? Nest sites Undisturbed soil Access to that soil Old stems Soft leaves Rodent burrows Compost piles Constructed nests Non-toxic nest material Floral resources Diversity of plant species A range of flower types Accessible pollen & nectar Continuous resources Non-toxic forage

52 What do bees need? Low chemical input Food Nesting Habitat

53 More ways to help bees: Provide Resources: Diversity of plant species with succession of bloom from early spring through fall

54 Diversity of Plants = Diversity of Bees!

55 Food: All Season Long!

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58 Does it have to be native plants and/or wildflowers?? NO!

59 Listed here--- just few Experiment!! Plants for Pollinators Mix and match! Keep a log or photo journal. Don t take lists as gospel -Tip of the iceberg!!

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61 They see things we don t-uv!! Since bees can see certain colors better than others (including UV), bee-pollinated flowers often have UV markings

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63 Sequence-time of bloom Early Show Prime time Late Show Credits?

64 Sequence-time of bloom Look for plants that have a long bloom span or that rebloom Nepeta (Catmint) Heuchera (Coral bells, new cultivars)

65 Sequence-time of bloom Plants that bloom very early or very late to extend the season EARLY-Phlox divaricata (Shown here) LATE- Autumn Joy Sedum

66 Early Season Crabapple False Indigo American Yellowwood Cornelian Cherry Winter King Hawthorn Flowering Cherry Redbud Serviceberry Foster s Holly

67 Prime Time This is when gardens swing into bloom. So many species of trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials gear up for a brilliant debut during early to mid summer!!

68 Mid-Season Bottlebrush Buckeye Pee Gee Hydrangea Golden Raintree Climbing Prairie Rose St. John s Wort Amur Maackia Virginia Spiraea Clethra Winterberry Holly Linden

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70 Late Season Bee Bee Tree Abelia Seven-Son Flower Winged Sumac Chaste Tree Devil s Walking Stick

71 Early Season and Late Season Especially Important! Limited resources available

72 But: Some plants are NOT AS GOOD as others! Azalea Think about getting a plant that you think looks pretty, but also can be useful for Pollinators! Roses

73 What they may not like Non-native selections of certain plants Double blooms (ie dahlias or peonies) Impatiens walleriana Marigold (doubles) Petunia

74 What do bees need? Low chemical input Food Nesting Habitat

75 If you were a pollinator

76 Ideal home lawn in the USA Dense, green, monoculture

77 Lawns in the USA

78 Lawns in the USA

79 37 species of bees, including several rare and declining native bumble bees, foraging on lawn weeds - Larson & Potter, Journal of Insect Conservation (2014)

80 Lawn weeds help to sustain urban bee populations These patches act as stepping stones between remnants of natural habitat

81 What Can You Do to Help Bees? What level of lawn excellence are able to accept/maintain/overlook?

82 If you were a pollinator

83 What Can You Do to Help Bees? Provide nesting sites Leave some areas mulch-free!

84 What Can You Do to Help Bees? Blue orchard bee Provide nesting structures

85 Create a Pollinator Patch! Devote a small space in your yard as designated bee habitat!

86 MULLET GARDENS Business in the front, Party in the Back!

87 Where to get more Information?

88 SMART PLANTS FOR POLLINATORS

89 SMART HABITAT FOR POLLINATORS

90 SMART LAWNS FOR POLLINATORS

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92 Enter E3282 in the search box.

93 Thank You!!