Our need for Healthy Pollination

Club, school, etc.(change) date

Pollination – Why we need itPollination of flowers allows fruit, nuts, and seeds to be produced

Scientists say that every third bite of food is due to managed pollination

Without pollination, we would face a reduced, and very bland food supply

Our Current Pollination Challenge

Commercial honeybees are facing a challenge with CCD, varroa and tracheal mites, and other issues

Native bees face a challenge with monoculture

Pesticides commercially and in backyards are killing honeybees and other native bees

This needs to change

Do we have an issue or not?

Many people say that the honey bee challenge will be solved and all efforts should go towards saving the honey bee. However…

Gulf oil well crisis

Cap the well AND two secondary shafts

Chilean miner rescue

One primary shaft AND twosecondary shafts

Save the honey bee only?

There are two active viewpoints on the issue;

there’s no problem OR we should be prudent and work to enhance the growth and use of alternative pollinators

What Pollinates our Flowers?

Bees

Humming birds

Butterflies

Beetles

Moths/Bats (nighttime flowers)

There are only 5 Types of Bees…

Honeybees

Bumble Bees

Wasps

Hornets

…and all others -

In North America, “all others” is 4,000 species of bees, hornets, and wasps!

Three Types of Living Environments

30% nest in hives (social)

Honeybees Hornets Paper Wasps

40% nest in holes (solitary)

30% nest in the ground (social and solitary)Algaia Blue Orchard Leafcutter Mud Dauber

Bumblebee Digger Bee Alkaline Bee

Make a Difference with Pollination

Grow a yard full of pollen from spring to fall

Use no pesticides. If absolutely necessary; target specific pests, not broad spectrum which affects all insects including beneficial pollinators

Try raising bees yourself

Start with easy to raise solitary bees

Graduate to honeybees or others

Start with Easy-to-Raise Mason Bees

The Spring Mason Bees

Blue Orchard Bee (BOB)

Osmia lignaria

Japanese Orchard Bee (JOB)

Osmia cornifrons

Compare the BOB to the common housefly

Honeybee and Mason Bee Differences

Social bees and very structured Solitary bees – Each female a queen

Males pollinate while foraging

No honey!

Imported from Europe Native in North America

Forage at cooler temperatures

Stay home in rainy days Will still forage in light rain

Males don’t pollinate

Live in hives Each has their own “condo” hole

Honeybee and Mason Bee Differences

Females very gentle!

Hive is active all year Active only April - May

Little pollen falls off the honeybee Pollen falls off everywhere

Pollinating a Fruit Tree7 Mason

Bees

545 Honey Bees

Neither is better than the other; their pollination capabilities are just different!

The Mason Bee Life Cycle

April - May

Late March

Sept - March July - Aug

June

Essentials for a Mason Bee

Food

Pollen should be within 300’ (100m) of their hole.

Mason bees prefer composite flowers and open petals. Think “dandelion” and “fruit tree blossom.” However, they will get pollen from about any flower

Mason Bee Essentials (2)

Reeds EasyTear Straws Inserts and Straws Wood trays No Plastic!

Drilled wood with no insert

Mason Bee Essentials (3)A shelter for the straws/reeds

A “house” that keeps the straws/reeds dry

On a non-moving surface (a wall is best)

Under an overhang

On the south or east walls to catch the morning sun

About a little higher than your head (so you can watch their activity)

Mason Bee Essentials (4)Mud (Actually quite important!)

A source of mud that is within 20-30’ of the shelter

The mud should be more clayey than silty

If you don’t have mud, you can easily create a mud hole. There are examples of “how-to” online

Mason bee Essentials (5)

Harvesting in the fall

If you don’t change your fish water, your fish die quickly

Mason bee Essentials (5)

Harvesting in the fall

If you don’t change the oil in your car, don’t expect your car to last long…

Mason bee Essentials (5)

Harvesting in the fall

Likewise, if you don’t harvest your mason bee cocoons in the fall, you will lose your colony

Why harvest?

To know what pests were present so that you can change what went wrong

Harvesting in the Fall

Wait until you have mason bees and look at www.crownbees.com’s pages on how to harvest.

Pictures, pests, and what to expect are all there

Harvesting is relatively easy, fun, and highly educational!

Five Easy Steps for Healthy Mason Bees

1. Put out your mason bee cocoons/straws when it’s warm (Late March ~ 55°F)

2. Put straws/reeds away in early June (away from pests!)

3. Harvest some straws/reeds in October (Most important!)

4. Share excess cocoons with friends in December

5. Inventory what you are missing in January

Sign up for Crown Bee’s “Bee-Mail” which reminds you when to do what.

How Can You Help?Provide a healthy habitat for alternate pollinators (hummingbirds, butterflies, all bees)

Have messy borders! (Ground dwelling bees!)

Be careful with chemicals & pesticides. Think organic. Teach your neighbors if they will listen!

Begin raising mason bees. Crown Bees has mason bees and great products available

Succeed by:

Learning enough to start

Try it, then look how you did in harvest

Thank you!

Questions?