The Impact of ROW Management on Apiary Populations Gary S. Reuter, University of Minnesotawww.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
Alfalfa Hay – Bee Pollination – Dairy and Beef
Your grocery store without bees
Healthy Bees Healthy Food Healthy Lives
Honey Bees
Decline in U.S. honey bee colonies Since 2007, 30-40% of all honey bee colonies die annually Beekeepers struggle to replace losses
Wild Bee Pollinators Also in Decline Bumblebee Sweat bee Miner bee Leafcutter bee Orchard Mason bee
Photo: Matthew Shepherd Ground-nesting (~70%) Wild Bee Nests Tunnel-nesting (~30%)
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 Can ola 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
Bees forage 2.5 miles from colony, on average
What can the public do? Plant flowers! nator-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! nator-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
Ice fishing in Minnesota
Collecting Pollen and Nectar
Foraging trip of a weakened bee in our modern landscape:
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.
Questions? The end References Gary S. Reuter University of Minnesota, 1980 Folwell Ave. Rm 219, St. Paul, MN Equipment plans Cool Pictures Beekeeping information 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
1/3 of the food you eat is dependent on pollination by honeybees.
allspice Macadamia Crops Pollinated by Honey Bees
Burdock Thistle Sunflower Canola Clover Dandelion Berries Milkweed Butterfly weed Sumac Berries Basswood Vetch Vine crops “Bee” Flowers
Bumblebee Rearing Maunual available on web site
BEE RESEARCH FACILITY PERSPECTIVE – Two Level Option
References Gary S. Reuter University of Minnesota, 1980 Folwell Ave. Rm 219, St. Paul, MN Equipment plans Cool Pictures Beekeeping information Its Back! BeeLab.umn.edu Help build bee lab “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