Our need for Healthy Pollination

1. Our need for Healthy Pollination Club, school, etc.(change) date

2. Pollination – Why we need it • Pollination 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 blandfood supply

3. 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

4. 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

5. What Pollinates our Flowers? • Bees • Humming birds • Butterflies • Beetles • Moths/Bats (nighttime flowers)

6. 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!

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. Honeybee and Mason Bee Differences No honey! Imported from Europe Native in North America Social bees and very structured Solitary bees – Each female a queen Live in hives Each has their own “condo” hole Males don’t pollinate Males pollinate while foraging Forage at cooler temperatures Stay home in rainy days Will still forage in light rain

11. 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

12. Pollinating a Fruit Tree 7 Mason Bees 545 Honey Bees Neither is better than the other; their pollination capabilities are just different!

13. The Mason Bee Life Cycle Late March April - May June Sept - March July - Aug

14. 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

15. Mason Bee Essentials (2) A nesting hole • A hole/straw/reed that is about 5/16” (7-8mm) and about 6” long. • With a bunch of other holes in the same area. Each female, if she chooses to nest, can fill about two holes in her lifetime. Drilled wood with no insert Reeds EasyTear Straws Inserts and Straws Wood trays No Plastic!

16. 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)

17. 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

18. Mason bee Essentials (5) Harvesting in the fall • If you don’t change your fish water, your fish die quickly

19. 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…

20. 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

21. 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!

22. Five Easy Steps for Healthy Mason Bees • Put out your mason bee cocoons/straws when it’s warm (Late March ~ 55°F) • Put straws/reeds away in early June (away from pests!) • Harvest some straws/reeds in October (Most important!) • Share excess cocoons with friends in December • Inventory what you are missing in January Sign up for Crown Bee’s “Bee-Mail” which reminds you when to do what.

23. 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

24. Thank you! Questions?