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

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Understanding and sustaining insect pollinators in your garden

Cast of characters C. Creating habitat Mining bee; CASM Celeste A.

Sustaining habitat E. Projects & resources 2017 C. A.

Why are pollinators important? Why are pollinators important?

fertilization, seed & fruit set wind, insects, birds, mammals Bat

pollinated by insects - most pollinated by bees 87 of 115 leading US

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 2017 C. A. Searles Mazzacano 1 yellow-faced bumble bee; 2 Flower scarab; CASM Why are pollinators important? Why are pollinators important? pollination: transfer of pollen within or between flowers for fertilization, seed & fruit set wind, insects, birds, mammals Bat Conservation International honey bee; 70% of flowering plants pollinated by insects - most pollinated by bees 87 of 115 leading US food crops depend on insect pollinators 3 Bumble bee on echinacea; Wikimedia Commons Importance of bees to food production (from Wilson & Carrill, 2016) 4

com Wasps Flies Beetles Moths & butterflies

economically important summer leafcutter

of native bees in North America honey bees,

2 Who pollinates? Who pollinates? More than bees!!!!! sand wasp; More than insects!!!!! Bats Hummingbirds Tayler/naturepl.com Wasps Flies Beetles Moths & butterflies Anna;s Hummingbird; Bee fly; 5 6 Who pollinates? Who pollinates? More than European honey bees!!!!! Bumble bee; Managed bees are economically important summer leafcutter bee, Crown Bees catalog - > 4,000 spp. of native bees in North America honey bees, bumble bees, orchard mason bees, alfalfa leafcutter bees bumble, mining, mason, leafcutter, orchard, sweat, digger, and carpenter bees Sweat bee; CA almond grove; Kathy Keatley Garvey 7 8

Challenges for pollinators Challenges for pollinators Many

of GA Colony Collapse Disorder (2006) in managed honey bee

fungi, bacteria) parasites (varroa mite, tracheal mite) many

of other wild bees Franklin s Bumble Bee; Dana Campbell

of FL 9 10 Challenges for pollinators managed bees may

many plants more efficiently than honey bees Challenges for

1,437 native bee species assessed are declining (52%) many

3 Challenges for pollinators Challenges for pollinators Many stressors habitat loss foulbrood-infected larvae; Univ. of GA Colony Collapse Disorder (2006) in managed honey bee hives dead bees; Rodale s pesticides diseases (viruses, fungi, bacteria) parasites (varroa mite, tracheal mite) many bumble bees are also declining much less known about status of other wild bees Franklin s Bumble Bee; Dana Campbell Varroa mite on bee pupa; Jason Graham, Univ. of FL 9 10 Challenges for pollinators managed bees may spread & intensify disease in wild bees wild bees pollinate many plants more efficiently than honey bees Challenges for pollinators Center for Biological Diversity (2017) 749 of 1,437 native bee species assessed are declining (52%) many more species lacked population data to assess habitat loss, pesticides, climate change, urbanization 11 12

4 Bees Bees Bees Bees Types of flowers pollinated vary short- vs. long-tongued bees generalist vs. specialist foragers short-tongued Sphecodes cuckoo sweat bee; Tom Murray Not all bees are pollinators nest parasites (cuckoo bees) nectar robbers Coelioxys cuckoo bee; Laura Clark, inaturalist nectar-robbing hole; long-tongued Eastern Bumble Bee; sankax, Flickr 15 16

Social (honey bees, bumble bees, some sweat bees) social: shared

in colony or nest members care for offspring that aren t theirs

honey bee nest; vickbird division of labor mining bee; 17 18 Social

bees, plasterer bees) Bees Carpenter, bumble, squash, long-horned,

lays eggs plant- and ground-nesting Miner bee on nest; Sweat bees

bees (Megachilidae) Anthophoridae; Polyester & yellow-faced bees

5 Social vs. solitary bees Social vs. solitary bees solitary: each female builds & provisions own nest Social (honey bees, bumble bees, some sweat bees) social: shared nests, castes with different roles several generations at one time in colony or nest members care for offspring that aren t theirs drone & workers; Max Westby, EoL Bumble bee nest; Panoramedia wild honey bee nest; vickbird division of labor mining bee; Social vs. solitary bees Solitary bees (mining bees, mason bees, sweat bees, plasterer bees) Bees Carpenter, bumble, squash, long-horned, and honey bees (Apidae) female provisions cells in nest where she lays eggs plant- and ground-nesting Miner bee on nest; Sweat bees (Halictidae) Mining bees (Andrenidae) Mason, carder, leaf-cutter bees (Megachilidae) Anthophoridae; Polyester & yellow-faced bees (Colletidae) Colletes nest aggregation; bumblebee.org Cellophane bee brood cell;natureworks Oil-collecting bees (Melittidae) Honey bee; 19 20

6 Long-horned bees Digger bees Bees Eucera; Alvesgaspar, Wikimedia Commons Melissodes; Laura Jansen Simpson, inat Anthophora; Hank Wallays, EoL Carpenter, bumble, long-horned, squash, and honey bees (Apidae) Small carpenter bees - medium to large; fuzzy/hairy Ceratina; Valter Jacinto, EoL Ceratina; Valter Jacinto, EoL Anthophora digging out nest tunnel; Cuckoo bee - have hair bands, stripes - long-tongued Peponapis squash bee; Holly Prendeville, U of NE Carpenter bees - carry pollen on hind legs Xylocopa; Xylocopa varipunctata; Barbara Vance, inaturalist Nomada; Discover Life long-horned bee; Kathy Keatley Garvey Bees Bees Honey bees (Apis mellifera) medium size; hairy body & eyes Bumble bees (Bombus) brown/black with golden bands medium to large; robust, hairy visit a variety of flowers wild honey bee hive; yellow, black, orange, white, or brown hair bands California Bumble Bee; carry pollen in corbiculae less effective pollinators for some crops than many native bees Honey bee; carry pollen & nectar mix in stiff hairs (scopa) in concave basket on hind legs (corbiculum) Tri-colored Bumble Bee; themountaincampus, inat 23 24

7 Bees Metallic green bees Bumble bees (Bombus) visit wide range of plants active in cooler, wetter weather than honey bees can tolerate Nevada Bumble Bee; Mike Patterson, inat Agapostemon odoratissimus; Mary Keim, EoL Sweat bees Agapostemon; Darwin Bell Augochlora pura; Sam Kieschnick, EoL Nomia melanderi (alkali bee); Entomology Today buzz pollination Halictus ligatus; Ricardo Ayala, EoL Lasioglossum; Stephen Cresswell Dieunomia nevadensis; John Ascher, Discover Life Sphecodes davisii; Ilona Loser, Discover Life Fog-belt Bumble Bee; Cara Fitchett, inat Dufourea; Cory Sheffield Xeralictus; Laurence Packer, Discover Life Sweat bees Bees Andrena barbilabris; Henk Wallays, EoL Andrena prima; Oklahoma Panhandle State Univ. Panurginus; Jules Barlet Sweat bees (Halictidae) Agapostemon splendens; Sean McCann, EoL - range of sizes & colors - may be metallic, striped - short-tongued Protandrena abdominalis; Smithsonian Calliopsis puellae; Lynette Schimming, Discover Life - carry pollen on hind legs Andrena cerasifolii; Hartmut Wisch, Discover Life - most are ground-nesting; varying sociality Dieunomia; Anne Reeves Macrotera; Discover Life Protoxaea; John Ascher, Discover Life Mining bees 27 28

Life Protoxaea gloriosa; Robert Behrstock,

apicalis; Bob O Kennon, inaturalist Hoplitis

leavitti; John Ascher, Discover Life Mason,

sayi; John Ascher, Discover Life 29 30 Bees

cylindrical; yellow & black stripes/spots,

Gould, inaturalist Bees (Megachilidae) -

nesters in existing tunnels in soil, wood,

8 Bees Osmia ribifloris; USDA Anthidium; Miroslav Deml, EoL Megachile rotundata; spiderbite, inaturalist Mining bees (Andrenidae) - range of sizes & colors - red, orange, cream, dark blue, striped Perdita minima; Jillian Cowles, Discover Life Protoxaea gloriosa; Robert Behrstock, Discover Life - short-tongued Lithurgopsis apicalis; Bob O Kennon, inaturalist Hoplitis hypocrita; Hartmut Wisch, Discover Life Ashmeadiella xenomastax; Hartmut Wisch, Discover Life - carry pollen on hind legs - ground-nesting Atoposmia copelandica; Laurence Packer, Discover Life Heriades leavitti; John Ascher, Discover Life Mason, carder, resin, & leafcutter bees Coelioxys sayi; John Ascher, Discover Life Bees Leafcutter, carder, mason, and resin bees (Megachilidae) - small to medium - moderately hairy head & thorax - robust, cylindrical; yellow & black stripes/spots, brilliant metallic colors Anthidium; Anita Gould, inaturalist Bees Leafcutter, carder, mason, and resin bees (Megachilidae) - carry pollen beneath abdomen - solitary nesters in existing tunnels in soil, wood, stems Megachile periharta; North Thurston HS Science Club, BugGuide.net - long-tongued 31 32

pronounced waist BEE WASP black or brown; yellow,

nectar in internal crop Pseudomasaris coquilletti;

most are predators, but some types feed young on

Bee Lab Pseudomasaris vespoides; Hartmut Wisch 33

bees Flies only 1 pair of wings that stick out to

shorter, thinner antennae may be bare or hairy

Flies Flower flies (Syrphidae) & bee flies

pollen, honeydew larvae predators (flower fly) or

9 Wasps Wasps Wasps vs. bees Pollen wasps (Pseudomasaris) less hairy more pronounced waist BEE WASP black or brown; yellow, white or red bands; clubbed antennae pollen & nectar in internal crop Pseudomasaris coquilletti; Mathesont brighter color patterns solitary nesters most are predators, but some types feed young on pollen & nectar Pseudomasaris vespoides nest; USDA Bee Lab Pseudomasaris vespoides; Hartmut Wisch Flies vs. bees Flies only 1 pair of wings that stick out to side when perched big round eyes dominate head shorter, thinner antennae may be bare or hairy Villa lateralis; Linda Dahlberg, Discover Life Flies Flower flies (Syrphidae) & bee flies (Bombyliidae) bee & wasp mimics adults eat nectar, pollen, honeydew larvae predators (flower fly) or parasites (bee fly) Helophilis flower fly; Chrysanthrax cypris bee fly; Royal Tyler Eristalis arbustorum; Hadel Go, Discover Life Toxomerus syrphid; MJ Hatfield 35 36

10 Beetles Beetles adults eat nectar, pollen, and often other insects Soldier Beetles (Cantharidae) Long-horned Beetles (Cerambycidae) bright colors & patterns larvae may be predators, wood-borers, or parasites Anthocomus soft-winged flower beetle; oldbilluk, inaturalist Margined Leatherwing; David Hebert Blister Beetles (Meloidae) Flower Scarabs (Scarabaeidae) Locust Borer; Bruce Marlin Pennsylvania Leatherwing; Sheryl Pollock, Discover Life Kern s Flower Scarab; Texas Flower Scarab; vadalton, inaturalist Red-eared Blister Beeetle; Ken-ichi Uchida Beetles Moths & Butterflies Checkered Beetle (Cleridae) Butterflies Western Pine Elfin; Soft-winged Flower Beetle (Melyridae) Tumbling Flower Beetle (Mordellidae) Ornate Checkered Beetle; Ken-ichi Ueda, inaturalist perch with wings held vertically sip nectar with long, straw-like proboscis Great Arctic; Hoshihananomia perlata; Stanislav Ktejcik, EoL Four-spotted Collops; Ken-ichi Ueda, inaturalist Gray Hairstreak; Zabulon Skipper; 39 40

11 Moths Moths & Butterflies feathery antennae; wings rooflike or flat when perched Hera Buck Moth; White-banded Black Moth; Creating habitat often night-flying can be important pollinators of night- blooming plants Yucca Moth; Ann Cooper LeConte s Haploa; Portland OR; Planting for pollinators Nectar & pollen sources - diverse - long bloom time - native plants - species groupings - low & tall plants Flower Fly; Pat Reed Flowers for bees Planting for pollinators purple, yellow, blue flowers; often sweet-scented nectar-rich landing platform Foxglove; Sweat bees swarming red osier dogwood; Small-flowered penstemon; Paul Noll 43 44

12 Planting for pollinators Flowers for bees may reflect UV light can have nectar guides often with bilateral symmetry Blue-eyed Mary; USDA Flowers for bees Planting for pollinators short-tongued bees prefer clusters of tiny flowers (herbs, daisy, marigold, phlox) Phlox; day lily, visible vs. UV light; David Kennedy checkermallow; Portland Nursery 45 Fleabane (Erigeron); Max Licher 46 English thyme; milkandhoneyherbs Flowers for bees Planting for pollinators Planting for pollinators Flowers for beetles long-tongued bees can access tubular flowers (penstemon, foxglove) Seep monkeyflower; Russ Kleinman dull white, green, or reddish flowers; can smell fruity, spicy, or bad often with open bowl shape; may lack nectar magnolia, aster, sunflower, rose, goldenrod, Spirea Prickly Poppy; CASM Grand Collomia; Mark Turner Woodland Penstemon; Lyn Topinka Magnolia; Portland Nursery 47 48

catmint; Beatriz Moisset, USDA Flowers for

brown/purple bad odor elderberry, skunk cabbage

orange, yellow, pink, blue perching platform

rock cress Showy Milkweed; Blanketflower;

pollinators Flowers for moths White-lined

Nursery Planting for pollinators Spring bloom

flowers in clusters open late afternoon or

evening primrose, yucca red-flowering currant,

13 Planting for pollinators Planting for pollinators Flowers for flies Tachninid on catmint; Beatriz Moisset, USDA Flowers for butterflies small shallow flowers drab; pale or brown/purple bad odor elderberry, skunk cabbage Red trillium; USDA Plants composite flowers; orange, yellow, pink, blue perching platform light scent sages, manzanita, trumpet flower, rock cress Showy Milkweed; Blanketflower; Funereal Duskywing; Planting for pollinators Flowers for moths White-lined Sphinx on California fuschia; Las Pilitas Nursery Planting for pollinators Spring bloom with natives Oregon grape; white or pale flowers in clusters open late afternoon or night strong sweet smell pink honeysuckle, evening primrose, yucca red-flowering currant, vine maple, western crabapple, Scouler s willow, red twig dogwood, Oregon grape, kinnikinnik, camas, globe gilia Globe gilia; Jeffrey Caldwell pink honeysuckle; Las Pilitas Nursery Western crabapple; Heidi Bohan 51 52

com mock orange, twinberry, salal, lupine,

Oregon stonecrop Oregon sunshine; Portland

Beyond the bloom Beyond the bloom water &

puddling for minerals; shelter & nesting

14 Planting for pollinators Planting for pollinators Summer bloom with natives Late summer/fall bloom with natives Douglas aster; nwplants.com mock orange, twinberry, salal, lupine, Douglas & birch-leaved spirea, native roses and berries, showy milkweed, Oregon sunshine, penstemon lupine; mock orange; Douglas aster, Canada goldenrod, coyote brush, pearly everlasting, seaside daisy, Oregon stonecrop Oregon sunshine; Portland Nursery penstemon; Canada goldenrod; Univ. of Waterloo Coyote brush; calflora.net Pearly everlasting; Paul Slichter Beyond the bloom Beyond the bloom water & nutrients Western Tiger Swallowtails puddling for minerals; shelter & nesting sites - safe access for small insects - puddling sources for butterflies sun - warming in the morning, refuge in the afternoon beneficial insect bath - dead snags (mason & leafcutter bees) - rotting logs (sweat bees, flower flies) - old rodent burrows (bumble bees) standing snag; 55 56

Beyond the bloom Beyond the bloom shelter & nesting sites - rock &

egg-laying sites - stem bundles & bee blocks - open at 1 end only

(ground-nesting bees, beetle & fly larvae) - tunnels <1 4 diameter,

overwintering) prairie junegrass; Paul Slichter Alfalfa leafcutter

Sustaining habitat Sustaining habitat Integrated pest management

long-term prevention of pests/damage using multiple techniques proper

control, habitat manipulation, planting & watering practices,

15 Beyond the bloom Beyond the bloom shelter & nesting sites - rock & brush piles (beetles, caterpillars, pupae) brush pile; Nesting & egg-laying sites - stem bundles & bee blocks - open at 1 end only Leafcutter bees; Kathy Keatley Garvey/ UC Davis - undisturbed soil (ground-nesting bees, beetle & fly larvae) - tunnels <1 4 diameter, 3-5 deep; if >1 4, then 5-6 deep - grass clumps (nesting & overwintering) prairie junegrass; Paul Slichter Alfalfa leafcutter nest board; USDA ARS Osmia rufa in nesting tube; BioImages Sustaining habitat Sustaining habitat Integrated pest management (IPM): build healthy soil Cluster Rose; ecosystem-based strategy long-term prevention of pests/damage using multiple techniques proper plant placement & irrigation plant mostly natives - biological control, habitat manipulation, planting & watering practices, pest-resistant varieties - preserve natural system as much as possible scout your gardens tolerate some damage Black Twinberry; 59 60

Sustaining habitat Sustaining habitat Reduce/eliminate pesticides - disrupts natural enemies - pests

natural enemies may allow additional pests to establish - non-lethal levels can impair pollinator

artichoke; 61 62 Creating & maintaining habitat Creating & maintaining habitat IF pesticides used,

environment Oleander aphids on rush milkweed; can plant as seeds or starts soil preparation & weed

farewell-to-spring* Phacelia yarrow Oregon sunshine bloom time summer spring spring early summer

16 Sustaining habitat Sustaining habitat Reduce/eliminate pesticides - disrupts natural enemies - pests faster to disperse & re-colonize treated areas than natural enemies ichneumonid wasp attacking cabbage white larvae; Wageningen Univ. wasp attacking navel orangeworm; UC Statewide IPM Project Reduce/eliminate pesticides - removing natural enemies may allow additional pests to establish - non-lethal levels can impair pollinator broodrearing, production of females, & foraging Convergent lady beetle; Bumble & honey bees on artichoke; Creating & maintaining habitat Creating & maintaining habitat IF pesticides used, treat to suppress target organism only minimize risks to human health, non-target organisms, & environment Oleander aphids on rush milkweed; can plant as seeds or starts soil preparation & weed control important during establishment Common name meadowfoam* globe gillia* meadowfoam* farewell-to-spring* Phacelia yarrow Oregon sunshine bloom time summer spring spring early summer late summer summer summer use least toxic alternative (insecticidal oils & soaps, microbials) showy milkweed lupine Douglas aster Canada goldenrod blue wild rye summer summer fall fall N/A *annual 63 64

Creating & maintaining habitat Creating & maintaining habitat Laren Leland,

OR Prepare planting area exhaust weed seed bank - till-water-mow-weed (hand pull,

water, monitor 65 66 Creating & maintaining habitat Prepare planting area sheet

k.a. lasagna bed solarization Creating & maintaining habitat Seeding

plastic = soil sterilization UC Master Gardener-Sonoma Co.

17 Creating & maintaining habitat Creating & maintaining habitat Laren Leland, Portland OR Laren Leland, Portland OR create planting plan Laren Leland, Portland OR Prepare planting area exhaust weed seed bank - till-water-mow-weed (hand pull, spot-treat) prepare planting area Fabian Menalled, MSU Extension, MT plant, mulch, water, monitor Creating & maintaining habitat Prepare planting area sheet composting, a.k.a. lasagna bed solarization Creating & maintaining habitat Seeding aerial/broadcast or seed drill even distribution, good contact with soil - clear plastic = soil sterilization UC Master Gardener-Sonoma Co. mix with bulking agent (sand, sawdust) Texas A&M Univ. - black plastic = kills grass Sustainable Living Center Oregon seed from 2 different directions wildflower seed mix; Central Coast gardening 67 68

18 Creating & maintaining habitat Creating & maintaining habitat Seeding sow perennial seeds in early fall in PNW (Sept. to mid-oct.) 2 oz wildflower seed per 1000 sq. ft Texas A&M Univ. spring pollinator demonstration garden early summer wildflower seed mix; Central Coast gardening late summer Creating & maintaining habitat central CA pollinator garden; Megan O Donald Pollinator pathway; Kim Smith Design Creating & maintaining habitat native pollinator garden, Los Angeles CA; Carol Bornstein bee block; Oregon Metro OSU Extension mining bee tunnels in garden path; Megan O Donald 71 72

19 Resources Resources Koch, Strange, & Williams; USFS Great Sunflower Project Encyclopedia of Life Resources Resources $3.99; ios only entomology.oregonstate.edu 75 76

20 Resources Visit emswcd.org to find more workshops and resources! * annual plant sale! Projects greatsunflower.org Questions? Celeste A. Searles Mazzacano, cmazzacano@gmail.com Yellow-faced Bumble Bee; Netwinged Beetle, bumblebeewatch.org Flower scarabs; Western Swallowtail, Copyright 2017 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

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

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