3/31/2016 What w e w ill cover: • The mechanics of pollination • The importance of animal pollinators • Attracting and sustaining pollinators Landscaping • Building pollinator habitats for Pollinators • Design considerations • Preparation Sally Wencel • Materials • Maintenance The best strategy for genetic diversity is Cross What is Pollination? Pollination which involves pollen from the anther • An ecosystem process that has evolved over millions of of one plant fertilizing the stigma of another plant years to benefit both flowering plants and pollinators • The process of transferring pollen from one flower to another or to a different part of the same flower Pollination • Some flowering plants are pollinated by wind or water • More than 85% of flowering plants require animals to move pollen 1
3/31/2016 Plant Reproduction • Some plants have “perfect” flowers and can self- pollinate • Some plants have “imperfect” flowers that have either male or female parts on the same plant • Some plants are only male or female (dioecious) Most pollination services ARE FREE!!!! Pollinators and Flow ers Pollinators are Diverse Evolved Together • Wild Bees (4,000 species in the US) • Hummingbird flowers are tubular and red but scentless • Butterfly flowers are typically composite flowers (asters) • Managed Bees (Honey bees are not native) and provide landing platforms • Wasps • Bee flowers are diverse, like bees, but are usually yellow • Butterflies & Moths and often in the aster family • Beetles & Flies • Bumblebees appear to prefer complex flowers like blueberries • Bats • Flowers pollinated by moths and bats are usually white • Hummingbirds and highly scented • Fly pollinated flowers usually smell like rotten meat (Pawpaw) 2
3/31/2016 Generalists vs Pollinator Rew ards Specialists • Some seek nectar but transfer pollen attached to their bodies from plant to plant • Pollinators that target specific flowers are • Some (bees and wasps) collect “specialists” (Squash bees) pollen to feed their young and themselves • Specialists are more productive • Some pollinators (beetles) feed on the plants and flowers and incidentally transport pollen • Pollinators that forage a wide range of flower are “generalists” (Honey bees) • Most pollinators are generalists Flow ers that Attract Flow ers that Attract Adult Butterflies Bees COLOR Yellow, Blue, White; Bees cannot see the color Red SHAPE Composite flowers Flowers that provide a landing platform SHAPE -Landing platforms Tightly clustered flower -Composites, with tight clusters in the center surrounded by colorful petals SIZE Larger butterflies prefer taller plants -Columnar, with flowers that open slowly from bottom to COLOR White, pink, purple, red, yellow and orange are top encourage return visits most attractive. Blue and green the least -Complex flowers like blueberries invite buzz pollination attractive (can see ultraviolet colors as well) FRAGRANCE Sweet scents attract bees, suggesting nectar is available FRAGRANCE Strong sweet fragrances promise nectar and are STRIPES Serve as road signs pointing toward pollen and nectar like highly attractive Azaleas and Penstemons (some markings are ultraviolet) TINY BUNCHED Bunched flowers like Anise Hyssop and Mountain Mint invite bees of all sizes What about hybrids? Best Pollinators? • Hybrids and cultivars (selections) are chosen for their • Bees are the most unusual forms and colors productive • Unusual forms and colors can often also result in • Butterflies may • Lower pollen and nectar yields spread pollen further • Pollinator specialists not able to recognize the flower and advance genetic diversity New England Aster – “straight species” New England Aster “Alma Poetschke” 3
3/31/2016 Pollination and Human Nutrition Crops that need pollinators • 35% of crop production Blueberries Southeastern blueberry bees, Bumble bees, Solitary bees worldwide • Over $18 to $27 billion value Eggplant Bumble bees, Solitary bees of corps in the US ($217 B worldwide) Squash (all types, Squash bees, Bumble bees, Solitary bees including pumpkin)* • One in three mouthfuls of food and drink we consume Cantaloupe, Melon* Squash bees, Bumble bees, Solitary bees • Most of our vitamins and Berries (Raspberry, Honey bees, Bumble bees, Solitary bees, Flies, Longhorn minerals are from insect- Blackberry, Elderberry, beetles pollinated plants etc) • Also fibers, essential oils, Kiwifruit* Honey bees, Bumble bees, Solitary bees and more Fruit trees Honey bees, Bumble bees, Solitary bees, Flies * Indicates pollinators are essential Benefits of Native Bees in Crops We’re Not the only ones w ho rely on pollinators Native bees are highly for our food efficient: • Active earlier & later in the day • 25% of bird and mammal diets • Collect both pollen & consist of pollinator-produced nectar seeds/fruit • Buzz pollinate • Pollinators are food for wildlife • Habitat with high native plant diversity supports abundant beneficial insects, other wildlife, and overall biodiversity Bumble bee buzz pollinating a tomato flower White-eyed vireo Native Bee Pollination Effectiveness Blue Orchard Bee • 250 to 750 females/acre compared to 2.5 honey bee hives • Make contact with anther and stigma on almost every visit • Active at low light and low temperatures • 33+ hours foraging in 5 days • 15+ hours by honey bees 4
3/31/2016 IPBES* Report Threats • Loss of habitat through landscaping practices • 20,000 species of wild bees worldwide • Loss of shelter & nesting sites • Loss of food sources (host, nectar and pollen sources) • 75% of world’s food crops depend at least in part on pollination • Lack of water • 300% increase in volume of agricultural production • Climate change dependent on animal pollination in past 50 years • Agricultural practices including pesticide use • 16.5% of vertebrate pollinators threatened with extinction globally • >40% of invertebrate pollinator species – particularly bees and butterflies – facing extinction *UN Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report released February 26, 2016 Pesticides Bees in Decline • One third of bumble bee species in North America at risk of extinction • As bees decline, crop acreage requiring bee • Most pollinator poisoning occurs when pollinator-toxic pesticides are applied pollination grows during blooming period • From 1961 to 2006, a 300% increase in total • Poisoning can also result from acreage • Pesticide drift from adjoining areas • Pesticide residues being picked up by foraging pollinators when taken back to the nest/colony • Pollinators drinking or touching contaminated water sources, including dew on recently treated plants Organic Pesticides Safer pest management options • Organic-Approved Pesticides • Bt • Pyrethrins = Dangerous for bees and beneficial insects • Insect repellents (garlic • Spinosad = Dangerous for bees and beneficial insects or citrus oils) • Kaolin clay barriers • Okay when not directly applied to bees (i.e. non-blooming (Surround) crops or at night): • Pheromone traps • Insecticidal soap • Mating disruptors • Horticultural oil, Neem Not Always = Safe for Pollinators 5
3/31/2016 Pollinator Saving Strategies We Landscape w ith Native • Provide: Plants Because they • Food throughout the growing season including host plants, nectar & pollen PROMOTE BIODIVERSITY: The more floral diversity the better • Evolved t d togethe ther w with th lo local l wildlif ildlife • Shelter and support m and support more of of their needs their needs • Nesting habitat • Water • Ar Are in e integr gral t al to a a health healthy y ec ecos osystem • Avoid using pesticides • Requir quire f fewer r chem chemic icals als • Management only to maintain habitat, and then – ideally – only manage 30% at a time • Nesting and overwintering habitats: a diversity of structures Native Plant Field Borders and Pest Management Native Plant Field Borders and Pollination • Emerging Research: Sand wasp predation of brown marmorated stinkbugs In 2011, Michigan researchers observed • Spotted bee balm ( Monarda punctata ) and mountain mint ( Pycnanthemum spp.) as 12% higher blueberry yields adjacent to nectar plants for wasps wildflower plantings. Research by Dave Biddinger, Penn State University Increased yields may pay off the cost of establishing wildflowers in 3-to-4 years. 3 Easy Steps Diversity of Bloom • Reduce your lawn • Create a Diversity of Bloom • Reduce your use of • NATIVE PLANTS! chemicals • Protect Nests and Egg-Laying Sites • Plant native trees • Don’t Use Pesticides • Plant densely and in communities • Add pollen, nectar and host plants – Pollinator Gardens 6
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