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An Evaluation of Georgia’s Mason Bees (Megachilidae : Osmia species )

An Evaluation of Georgia’s Mason Bees (Megachilidae : Osmia species ) And Their Nesting Preferences. Nicholas Glynn Stewart and M. A. Schlueter. NATIVE-BASED POLLINATION SYSTEMS: Basic Description  Rationale  Required Knowledge.

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An Evaluation of Georgia’s Mason Bees (Megachilidae : Osmia species )

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  1. An Evaluation of Georgia’s Mason Bees (Megachilidae: Osmia species) And Their Nesting Preferences Nicholas Glynn Stewart and M. A. Schlueter

  2. NATIVE-BASED POLLINATION SYSTEMS: Basic DescriptionRationaleRequiredKnowledge An Ecosystem Service where the Pollination is provided IN TANDEM with the natural system • A Native-Based Pollination System is an agro-ecosystem which depend upon the native Apoidea to provide all the necessary pollination services a particular crop would ever require • The most abundant native species which were Inherently present and participating in pollination services are known as “Target” native pollinators

  3. OsmiaSPECIES: 16 Species in GA (28 SPECIES) Spring Common North-East; Uncommon in South Cavity/Stem-nester, 28 species • Early spring species in GA, rarely persisting beyond the end of April • Ranging from one-third the size of a honeybee to slightly larger • The majority of species are dark blue (often appearing black in the field) with a few that are brown, black, and one rare bright green one

  4. TheMASON BEES (Osmia sp.): An Opportunity Presents Itself… • In North Georgia, Osmiaare some of the earliest bees to emerge each year • Early- to Mid-March • Prior to the apple bloom – typically occurring in mid-April (the 1st mass floral food resource) - NO FOOD IS AVAILABLE • Females immediately SCATTER in search of suitable nesting sites • Food availability • Nesting habitat • EarlyBlooms in 2011 and ‘12 provided a booster to the Osmia populations, resulting in a bumper year • 2010 (TYPICAL) – (9) Osmia collected • 2012 (EARLIEST ON RECORD) – 311 Osmia collected Why Should we care?

  5. Using simple measures in Osmia rich regions, some Mason Bee species have become easily MANAGEABLE POLLINATORS Currently Managed Species: THE Horn-Faced & Blue Orchard Mason Bees

  6. 7 Mason Bees Pollination Efficiency of Osmia • Osmia are EXCEPTIONAL POLLINATORS of Rose-Family agricultural crops • LIKE - Apples, peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries, almonds, pluots... • One mating pair of Osmia • have been shown to effectively pollinate an • entire apple tree in full bloom 545 Honey Bees

  7. GOALS: Basic DescriptionRationale • TRY TO ENCOURAGE Osmia to remain in and settle at our orchards using EARLY BLOOMING FLORAL RESOURCES and NEST HABITAT • PROMOTE AS MUCH NESTING as possible within easily collected and transported hollow TUBES and NEST BOXES • DETERMINE which NEST MATERIAL (Tubes vs. Boxes; Optimal Diameters) is best: • Resulting in the most females rearing young (FILLING TUBES) • Give the most viable offspring ultimately • DECIDE if PROVIDING FLORAL RESOURCES is worthwhile versus only NESTING HABITAT (Floral Nesting Plots vs. Nesting Plots alone)

  8. Species with Management Potential: The Blue Orchard Bee

  9. Species with Management Potential: The Blue Orchard Bee

  10. Species with Management Potential: Osmia georgica, O. atriventris & O. pumila • OF the 111Osmia cocoons harvested, nearly 50%were the offspring of one of our native GA species (the 3rd most abundant) • Osmia georgica • Surprisingly, the next most prolific species, responsible for roughly 35% of the viable offspring, is an introduced species to NA – only just last year being recorded for the 1st time in GA • Osmiataurus

  11. BENEFITS OF OSMIA: • Osmia pollinate open-faced flowers very efficiently • One mating pair can pollinate as effectively as nearly 200 honeybees • Osmia can be easily managed • With little effort, Osmia can be utilized for multiple years and moved wherever needed • IMPLICATIONS OF OSMIA ABUNDANCE PEAKS FOR NATIVE-BASED POLLINATION SYSTEMS: Osmia abundance peak during PREMATURE BLOOMS Provide POLLINATION RESERVOIR for native-pollination systems during these early seasons QUESTIONS?

  12. PHENOLOGY OF AN AGRO-ECOSYSTEM: The Apple Bloom and Bee Species Emergence/Occurrences • In typical seasons, onset of apple bloom occurs around mid-April • 1st substantial floral resource providing food for bees • Prior to onset of bloom, no food available • Emergent males wait for females to emerge • Females begin to search for nesting sites • Based upon food availability, nesting habitat Osmia, Bombus & Xylocopa Emergence Dominate TNP Bee Species Emergence APPLE BLOOM Vernal Floral Dearth April March May

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