www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators acknowledgments-4 Acknowledgments This book was produced with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program; the University of Minnesota Department of Entomology; and The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. Photos and line drawings in this book were contributed by the authors and their colleagues. Contributors are credited at the top right […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators bibliography Bibliography Arbury, J., R. Bird, M. Honour, C. Innes, and M. Salmon. 1997. The Complete Book of Plant Propagation. Taunton. Newtown, CT. Baker, H. G. and I. Baker. 1983. A brief historical review of the chemistry of floral nectar. In The Biology of Nectaries. B. Bentley and T. Elias (eds.) Columbia University Press. New York, NY. […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators appendix-e-hybrid-nest-blocks-for-cavity-nesting-bees Appendix E: Hybrid Nest Blocks for Cavity-Nesting Bees Eric Mader, Pollinator Outreach Coordinator, the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation Hybrid nest blocks combine the attributes of both solid board nests and the loose-cell management system (Figure E.1). Such systems use removable paper inserts for nest liners to facilitate annual nest block cleaning. This is essential to remove disease spores such as chalkbrood and […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators chapter-seven-the-alfalfa-leafcutter-bee life-cycle Life Cycle In nature, leafcutter bees nest in cavities like tunnels made by wood-boring insects. The absence of abundant and secure nesting sites limits the size of wild populations. Artificial nests can be constructed with blocks of wood or Styrofoam drilled with multiple holes, bundles of paper straws, or even sections of reed or bamboo to increase […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators chapter-five-bumble-bees bumble-bee-as-managed-pollinators Bumble Bee as Managed Pollinators When farms were smaller and set within a more diverse landscape, wild native bees provided pollination services for many crops. With strong pollinator populations and smaller field sizes, some farmers relied on the pollination services provided by native bees. As agriculture has moved towards larger fields with less surrounding wild area, farmers have become more […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators chapter-four-pollination-botany flower-types Flower Types There are tremendous variations in flowers between plants of different species, and various ways of categorizing plants based on flower characteristics. Among the most basic classification is separation based on the number of flower parts. Monocotyledons (including grasses, orchids, lilies, and palms) consist of flower parts (such as stamens or petals) in groups of three. […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators chapter-three-a-brief-natural-history-of-bees bees Bees Bees and their most closely related wasps are grouped together in the superfamily Apoidea within the order Hymenoptera. The wasps within the Apoidea are called the Spheciformes (they are commonly referred to as sphecid wasps). The Apiformes, or bees, are thought to have arisen from a sphecid ancestor in the Early Cretaceous period of the […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators chapter-two-the-status-of-the-european-honey-bee-in-the-us prevention Prevention Beekeeping Practices The most essential beekeeping practice is to make sure all colonies have large pollen and nectar stores at all times. Knowing when and how much to feed bees is an art and comes with experience. In general, the more proactive beekeepers are about providing supplemental feedings, the better. Good nutrition is critical for […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators chapter-one-the-business-of-pollination the-case-for-a-diversity-of-bees The Case for a Diversity of Bees The greater the diversity of bees, the better the pollination. Honey bees are often considered the most important crop pollinator due to their sheer numbers. They live in large colonies requiring copious amounts of pollen and nectar for nourishment. Each honey bee colony contains about 30,000 bees, with a range of 10,000 to 60,000 bees, […]
www.sare.org publications managing-alternative-pollinators foreword-3 Foreword This book could not have come at a better time. We stand at a crossroads, where honey bee losses and rental rates for pollination are on the rise, research is expanding our knowledge of native bees’ role in crop pollination, and growers are looking for pollination alternatives to improve crop security. Herein lies the heart […]