Transcript Bee Slide Set - Michigan State University

Common Bees in Michigan
Julianna Tuell, Rufus Isaacs
Anna Fiedler, Doug Landis
Department of Entomology, Michigan State University
Why Are Bees Important?
• Pollination in natural habitats
– 80% of flowering plants require insects to transfer pollen in
order to produce seeds.
– Many insect-pollinated plants provide food for wildlife (e.g.
berries).
Why Are Bees Important?
• Pollination of 87 leading food and fiber crops
Major Bee Groups in the Eastern US
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honey bees
bumble bees
carpenter bees
mason and
leafcutter bees
• sweat bees
• digger bees
honey bee
bumble bee
carpenter bee
leafcutter bee
sweat bee
digger bee
Honey bees (Apidae)
• Native to Europe.
• First used for honey and wax production.
• Now most important bee in crop pollination
because they are readily managed.
• Feral colonies have been decimated by
diseases and mites.
• Commercial beekeepers also have a
difficult time with diseases and mites.
• Not the most efficient pollinator of every
crop.
• Can be inhibited by cooler weather.
• Fortunately, many other kinds of bees can
help pollinate crops.
Apis mellifera
Bumble bees (Apidae)
• Medium (workers and drones) to
large (queens) yellow or white and
black.
• A single queen produces a colony
of workers.
• Nest in abandoned rodent burrows
or other cavities in the ground.
• Commercially produced colonies
now available.
• Feed on many different flowers.
Bombus
spp.
Carpenter bees (Apidae)
• Two distinct types:
– large (often mistaken for bumble bee
queens).
– Small (metallic blue).
• Most females are solitary,
building and provisioning their
own nests (no workers are
produced).
• Nest in wood or pithy stems.
• Feed on many different flowers.
Xylocopa virginiana
Ceratina sp.
Photo: J. Evans
Mason bees (Megachilidae)
• Small to medium, bluish metallic
or black with white hair on thorax,
with dense abdominal hairs for
carrying pollen.
• Solitary, but often nesting in
aggregations.
• In nature, nesting in galleries
made by beetles in wood or pithy
stems; will readily nest in manmade straws.
• Separate and cap off nest cells
with mud.
Osmia lignaria
Orchard Mason Bee
Photo: S. Bambara
Leafcutter bees (Megachilidae)
• Medium, black, often with a
striped abdomen on which they
collect pollen.
• Solitary, nesting in
aggregations.
• Nest in galleries made by
beetles in wood or pithy stems;
will readily nest in man-made
straws.
• Cut leaf sections from softleafed plants to make nests.
leaf capsule
in hollowed
twig
Megachile spp.
Digger bees (Andrenidae and Apidae)
• Small to large bees with very
hairy hind legs.
• Solitary, nest in soil.
• Usually one generation
produced per season.
• May visit many different
flowers, or will collect pollen
from only a few related plant
species.
Andrena
spp.
Sweat bees (Halictidae)
• Three size/color groups:
– Medium-sized, brown, with or
without stripes
– Small to medium, metallic green
– Small bronze/golden metallic
• Solitary and social species.
• Some produce several
generations per season.
• Most nest in soil; some in soft
wood.
• Visit many different flowers.
Halictus sp.
Lasioglossum sp.
Agapostemon spp.
What do native bees need?
• flowers for nectar and
pollen
• nesting habitat
• pesticide-free environment
Flowering Resources
• nectar, floral oils
• pollen
Nesting Resources
nest entrance in soil
nest made in sloping soil
holes in a tree that could
be used by bees
nest made in burrow
nesting box constructed
for cavity nesting bees
Access to Clean Water
• ponds
• bird baths
• ditches
Bee-friendly Practices
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Provide floral resources.
Provide nesting resources.
Provide clean water source.
Reduce insecticide use.
Use bee-safe insecticides if pest
control is necessary.
• Minimize use of herbicides.
Acknowledgements
For more information visit:
www.nativeplants.msu.edu
Funding sources: