1. Native Bees in Agriculture Annette M. Meredith University of Maryland meredith@mdsg.umd.edu

2. Pollinators Pollinate crops and wild plants Vectors for genetic exchange Essential for obligate mutualisms Habitat provides other ecosystem services Biodiversity value

3. Pollinators in Peril?

4. Pollinator Decline Habitat loss due to land use change Parasites, disease Pesticides, herbicides Nonnative pollinators Monocultures GM crops Climate change Protected lands limited

5. Honeybees

6. Photo: Keith Delaplane Colony Collapse Disorder

7. CCD Affected States

8. Native Pollinators

9. What is a bee?

10. Which one is a bee?

11. Overcoming Aversion to Bees

12. Term for Non-honeybees Respondent preference N farmers =102 / N sci/mgr =89 Agricultural Producers (%) Scientists Managers (%) Native bees42.253.9 Non-Apis bees4.93.4 Pollen bees2.92.3 Pollinating bees39.229.2 Solitary bees2.92.2 Wild bees7.99.0

13. Native Bee Diversity

14. Native Bee Census 12 mixed vegetable farms (MD, PA, WV) 11 CSAs, 1 former farm <15 acres 6 habitat types

15. Species by Sampling Effort

16. Native Bee Census >3100 bees 5 families 26 genera 81 species >96% in crop non-Apis Halictids dominate Total abundance, mean abundance and species richness greatest in July compared to June/August

17. Native Bee Census Average Number of bees / transect Agapostemon virescens (Females) Halictus ligatus (Females) n=128 n=441

18. Bees on Farms Forage Nest Sites

19. Sweat Bees Halictidae

20. Digger Bees Andrena, Colletes…

21. Bumblebees Bombus

22. Alkali Bees Nomia melanderi

23. Squash Bees Peponapsis pruinosa

24. Leafcutter Bees Megachile

25. Carpenter Bees Xylocopa, Ceratina

26. Mason Bees Osmia

27. Polyester Bees Colletes

28. Bee Identification http://www.discoverlife.org/

29. Bee Keys with Photos

30. Bumblebee ID http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2008/080128.htm

31. Bumblebee Wallet Guide

33. Acknowledgements Farms Avian Mead Organics, Calvert Farm, Calvert's Gift, Colchester Farm, Cromwell Valley CSA, Eating w/ the Seasons, Even’ Star Organic, Fresh and Local, Fulton Farm, Good Fortune Farm, Mt. Pleasant, One Straw Farm Guidance Michael Paolisso, Sam Droege, David Inouye, Fredrika Moser, Trish Steinhilber, Lori Lynch, Tom Simpson, T’ai Roulston, David Carr, Holly Menninger, Julianna Tuell, Jennifer Reed, Quinn McFrederick, Esther Julier Field Assistance Jacquelyn DeLacerda, Carlos Robles, Holly Menninger, Cara Fiore, Clair Keene, Renee Crane, Crystal Bennett, Eric Elton, Norah Warchola, Kevin Barry, Lila Warren, Josie Huber, Melissa Zwick, Maria Van Dyke, Kristin Henderson Maryland Sea Grant University of Virginia Blandy Experimental Farm USDA Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Funding

34. Questions ? Annette M. Meredith University of Maryland meredith@mdsg.umd.edu