Backyard Orchard News
Why We Want Our Bees to Be 'In the Pink!
Bees are known to prefer yellow and blue flowers, but pink suits them just fine, too. Here's...
Two honey bees nearly collide over this pink zinnia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A honey bee burrows in a pink oxalis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A young honey bee takes a liking to a pink begonia. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Why We Need to Push for Pollinator Protection
The 10th annual National Pollinator Week ends Sunday, June 25, and what an opportunity it's been...
Entomologist May Berenbaum photographs a bee on a pomegranate tree at the UC Davis bee garden, the Häagen-Dazs Honey Bee Haven, during her May 2014 visit to the campus. With her is Extension apiculturist Eric Mussen, now retired. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Entomologists, all! May Berenbaum presented a seminar at UC Davis in May 2014 and while on campus, toured the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility. With her (from left) are Robbin Thorp, UC Davis distinguished emeritus professor; bee scientist and assistant professor Brian Johnson (back), and Extension apiculturist (now emeritus) Eric Mussen. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Lindcove Hosted a Sprayer Calibration Training for California Red Scale
On June 13, 2017, University of California Cooperative Extension Farm Advisors Ali...
Pollinator Week
Pollinator Week, June 19–25, 2017: Bee Knowledgeable!
—Stephanie Parreira, UC Statewide IPM Program
Bees are the most important pollinators of California agriculture—helping us grow field crops, fruits, nuts, and vegetables. Honey bees receive most of the credit for crop pollination, but many other kinds of bees play an important role as well. There are 1600 species of bees in California! Take time during Pollinator Week to learn about the different kinds of bees and what you can do to help them flourish.
Why should I care about other kinds of bees?
Bees other than honey bees contribute significantly to crop pollination. For example, alfalfa pollination by alfalfa leafcutter bees is worth $7 billion per year in the United States. Other bees can also boost the result of honey bee pollination—in almond orchards, honey bees are more effective when orchard mason bees are present. The more bee species, the merrier the harvest!
While growers often rent honey bee colonies to pollinate their crops, some wild bees pollinate certain crops even better than honey bees do. For instance, bumble bees are more effective pollinators of tomato because they do something honey bees do not: they shake pollen out of flowers with a technique known as buzz pollination. Likewise, native squash bees are better pollinators of cucurbits—unlike honey bees, they start work earlier in the day, and males even sleep in flowers overnight.
How can I help honey bees and other bees?
When it comes to land management and pest management practices, some bees need more accommodations than others. That's why it is important to know what bees are present in your area and important to your crop, and plan for their needs. Use this bee monitoring guide from the University of California to identify the bees present on your farm.
You can help all kinds of bees by using integrated pest management (IPM). This means using nonchemical pest management methods (cultural, mechanical and biological control), monitoring for pests to determine whether a pesticide is needed, and choosing pesticides that are less toxic to bees whenever possible. Check out the UC IPM Bee Precaution Pesticide Ratingsto learn about the risks different pesticides pose to honey bees and other bees, and follow the Best Management Practices To Protect Bees From Pesticides.
Bees also need plenty of food to stay healthy and abundant. Plant flowers that provide nectar and pollen throughout the year. See the planting resources below to find out which plants provide year-round food for specific types of bees.
Like honey bees, native bees need nesting areas to thrive. Bumble bees, squash bees, and other bees nest underground. Ground-nesting bees may require modified tilling practices (such as tilling fields no more than 6 inches deep for squash bees) or no-till management to survive. For aboveground nesters like carpenter bees and mason bees, consider planting hedgerows or placing tunnel-filled wooden blocks around the field. See the habitat resources below for more information about native bee nesting in agricultural areas.
Enjoy your “beesearch!”
Bee Habitat Resources
- Habitat for Bees and Beneficials
- Managing Wild Bees for Crop Pollination
- Native Bee Nest Locations in Agricultural Landscapes
- Farming for Bees: Guidelines for Providing Native Bee Habitat on Farms
- Hedgerow Planting for Pollinators: Central Valley, Central Coast, Southern California
- Conservation Cover for Pollinators: Central Valley, Central Coast, Southern California
- The Integrated Crop Pollination Project: Tools for Growers
Sources
- Insect Pollinated Crops, Insect Pollinators and U.S. Agriculture: Trend Analysis of Aggregate Data for the Period 1992–2009.
- Native bees are a rich natural resource in urban California gardens. (PDF)
- Honey bees are more effective at pollinating almonds when other species of bees are present.
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Kate Frey: How to Attract Pollinators
It's National Pollinator Week and you might be wondering where your pollinators...
Award-winning garden designer, author and pollinator specialist Kate Frey addresses a recent crowd at Annie's Annuals and Perennials. Her topic: "Gardening for Bees, Beauty and Diversity." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Following her talk at Annie's Annuals and Perennials, Richmond, Kate Frey (center) answers questions and signs copies of her book,"The Bee Friendly Garden" (co-authored with Professor Gretchen LeBuhn of San Francisco State University). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
One of the pollinator plants that Kate Frey recommends is the blanket flower, Gaillardia. Here a bumble bee, Bombus californicus, gives its approval. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
Milkweed as one of Kate Frey's favorite pollinator plants. It's not only the host plant of the monarch butterfly, but other insects like it, too, including this leafcutter bee. This species is Asclepias speciosa. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
A bumble bee and honey bee share teasel in the pollinator garden of Kate and Ben Frey, Hopland. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)
The garden of Kate and Ben Frey, Hopland, is a showstopper.