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The Impact of ROW Management on Apiary Populations. Gary S. Reuter, University of Minnesota www.beelab.umn.edu. Your breakfast without bees. Scientific American April 2009. V alue of crops in US that depend on pollination: >$18.9 billion $ 217 billion worldwide.
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The Impact of ROW Management on Apiary Populations Gary S. Reuter, University of Minnesota www.beelab.umn.edu
Your breakfast without bees Scientific American April 2009 Value of crops in US that depend on pollination: >$18.9 billion $217 billion worldwide
Healthy Bees Healthy Food Healthy Lives
Decline in U.S. honey bee colonies 1945-2007 Since 2007, 30-40% of all honey bee colonies die annually Beekeepers struggle to replace losses
Wild Bee Pollinators Also in Decline Leafcutter bee Miner bee Bumblebee Orchard Mason bee Sweat bee
Wild Bee Nests Tunnel-nesting (~30%) Ground-nesting (~70%) Photo: Matthew Shepherd
Wild Bees: Larva feeds on pollen ball provisioned by mother bee
750,000 acres of almonds in Central CA requires 1.5 million colonies of honey bees for pollination No Bees, No Nuts
72,000 acres of blueberries across U.S. requires 150,000 colonies of honey bees for pollination No Bees, No Berries
Colonies trucked in and out because after bloom there are no flowers and many pesticide applications
Protect Bees Food If there are flowers blooming, there will be bees foraging
What bees eat • Pollen - protein • Nectar – carbs • Water Pollination Happens
“Bee”Flowers • Major Honey Plants • Clover • Alfalfa • Basswood • Buckwheat • Wildflowers/ weeds • Mustards • Vetch • Dandelion • Goldenrod • Sumac • Trees - pollen • Maple • Willow • Oak • Gardens/ fruit trees • Vine crops • Berries • Canola • Apple
Bees collect corn pollen but only when hungry (low protein content) Bees may collect nectar from soybeans in MN only when hot and humid
What can the public do? Plant flowers! www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/ • Pay attention to neonicotinoid systemic insecticide use, especially in urban landscapes! • Plant bee gardens • Encourage roadside plantings of flowers • CRP land: put legumes in mix
What can the public do? Plant flowers! www.xerces.org/pollinator-conservation/ • Pay attention to neonicotinoid systemic insecticide use, especially in urban landscapes! • Plant bee gardens • Encourage roadside plantings of flowers • CRP land: put legumes in mix
What can you do to help? Turn off the sprayer.
What can you do to help? Turn off the sprayer. Learn what the noxious weed look like.
ReferencesGary S. Reuter reute001@umn.edu University of Minnesota, 1980 Folwell Ave. Rm 219, St. Paul, MN 55108 The end • BeeLab.umn.edu • Help build bee lab • Bee Squad information • “Healthy Bees” on-line course! • open for registration, $25 for 4 year access • Bumble bee rearing manual, for sale! • Book on “Alternative Pollinators” to be published • Protecting Pollinators poster • Beekeeping Manual & video • Honey bee Queen Rearing Manual & video • Beekeeping Posters • Mead Making Poster Questions? • www.tc.umn.edu/~reute001 • Equipment plans • Cool Pictures • Beekeeping information
1/3 of the food you eat is dependent on pollination by honeybees.
allspice Macadamia Crops Pollinated by Honey Bees
“Bee” Vine crops Basswood Berries Vetch Burdock Sumac Canola Flowers Thistle Milkweed Clover Berries Butterfly weed Sunflower Dandelion