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

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 bland food supply

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

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 two secondary shafts Save the honey bee only? There are two active viewpoints on the issue; theres no problem OR we should be prudent and work to enhance the growth and use of alternative pollinators

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

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!

Three Types of Living Environments 30% nest in hives (social) HoneybeesHornetsPaper Wasps 40% nest in holes (solitary) 30% nest in the ground (social and solitary) AlgaiaBlue OrchardLeafcutterMud Dauber BumblebeeDigger BeeAlkaline Bee

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

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

Honeybee and Mason Bee Differences Social bees and very structuredSolitary bees – Each female a queen Males pollinate while foraging No honey! Imported from EuropeNative in North America Forage at cooler temperatures Stay home in rainy days Will still forage in light rain Males dont pollinate Live in hives Each has their own condo hole

Honeybee and Mason Bee Differences Females very gentle! Hive is active all yearActive only April - May Little pollen falls off the honeybeePollen falls off everywhere

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

The Mason Bee Life Cycle April - May Late March Sept - MarchJuly - Aug June

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

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. ReedsEasyTear StrawsInserts and StrawsWood traysNo Plastic! Drilled wood with no insert

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)

Mason Bee Essentials (4) Mud (Actually quite important!) A source of mud that is within of the shelter The mud should be more clayey than silty If you dont have mud, you can easily create a mud hole. There are examples of how-to online

Mason bee Essentials (5) Harvesting in the fall If you dont change your fish water, your fish die quickly

Mason bee Essentials (5) Harvesting in the fall If you dont change the oil in your car, dont expect your car to last long…

Mason bee Essentials (5) Harvesting in the fall Likewise, if you dont 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

Harvesting in the Fall Wait until you have mason bees and look at pages on how to harvest. Pictures, pests, and what to expect are all there Harvesting is relatively easy, fun, and highly educational!

Five Easy Steps for Healthy Mason Bees 1.Put out your mason bee cocoons/straws when its warm (Late March ~ 55°F) 2.Put straws/reeds away in early June (away from pests!) 3.Harvest some straws/reeds in October (Most important!) 4.Share excess cocoons with friends in December 5.Inventory what you are missing in January Sign up for Crown Bees Be which reminds you when to do what.

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

Thank you! Questions?