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