A Guide to Toronto's Pollinators
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The David Suzuki Foundation presents: A Guide to Toronto’s Pollinators $5 .00 A guide to the bees, butterflies & other pollinators that visit your home garden. A Guide to Your Local Pollinators is part of an effort by the David Suzuki Foundation to raise awareness about the value of plant and wildlife diversity in the Greater Toronto Area. Whether it’s in the city or in the country, nature provides invaluable services that humans benefit from, such as storing carbon, purifying water and air, pollinating plants and cycling nutrients. Choosing the vine right plants for your garden can help support local pollinators and wild flower vine the natural process of pollination. This guidebook introduces you to Toronto’s diverse pollinator populations. It is our hope that having it in your pocket will help you to notice the many bees and other pollinators in your city that aid in food production attractsand bees flowering shrubs plant (multiplereproduction. stems) attracts butterflies attracts flies attracts bees shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies P llinators vine vine vine vine ...what’s the Buzz? Legend: attracts attractsbees bees attractsbees bees attracts wild flower stinger stinger hive nester stinger vine stinger attracts attractsbees flies shrubs shrubs(multiple attractsbutterflies butterflies (multiplestems) stems) attracts shrubs(multiple (multiplestems) stems) attracts attractsbutterflies butterflies shrubs vine nonostinger stinger floral specialist twig or wood nester 2 parasite additional materials floral generalist stinger no stinger social bee solitary bee floral specialist or wood nester twig or wood nester in nest parasite materials twig floral generalist building additional in nest building POLLINATORS GUIDE social socialbee bee nostinger stinger socialbee bee wild flower no social shrubs (multiple hive nesterstems) attracts butterflies If you enjoy this guide, check out Toronto Plant Guide for Attracting Pollinators– a guidebook to native plants that attract bees and butterflies. To learn more about the role bees play in the pollination of plants (including the fruits and vegetables that floral floralspecialist specialist twig twigororwood woodnester nester we eat), visit: floral specialist twigorattracts orwood woodflies nester attracts shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies stinger no stinger social bees bee solitary bee ground nester twig floral specialist nester www.davidsuzuki.org/Conservation/Endangered_Species/pollinators/ stingerbee no stinger stinger no stinger social bee solitary ground nester www.davidsuzuki.org floral specialist wild wildflower flower wildflower flower wild parasite parasite parasite hive nester parasite social bee attracts attractsflies flies attractsflies flies attracts wild flower hive hiv hiv hive solitary solitarybee bee solitarybee bee solitary groun grou grou groun hiv attracts flies additional additionalmaterials materials floral flora additional materials floral florag additional materials ininnest nestbuilding building solitary bee grou nestbuilding building ininnest ground nester parasite www.davidsuzuki.org additional materials in nest building flora 3 P llinators ...what’s the Buzz? What is Pollination & What is a Pollinator? Types of Pollinators There are five major families of bees that carry out pollination in Ontario: the Apidae (honey bees, bumble bees, carpenter bees, some other solitary bees), Andrenidae (solitary mining bees), Halictidae (sweat bees), Megachilidae (leafcutter and mason bees) and Colletidae (plasterer bees). Cross pollination occurs when pollen grains are moved between two flowers by wind or animals. Successful pollination allows plants to reproduce. Almost 90% of flowering plants rely on animal pollinators for fertilization, and about 200,000 species of animals act as pollinators. In Canada alone, over $1.2 billion worth of horticultural produce depends upon insects for pollination! Without pollinator visits to apples, cherries, blueberries, melons, pears, pumpkins, raspberries, tomatoes, and other fruiting plants in our gardens, our produce and our economy would be vastly diminished. Flower or hover flies (Syrphidae) resemble bees and wasps, having colour patterns and flight behaviour that closely mimics them. These flies help in pollinating many flowers, and are beneficial to gardens because the larvae of most species prey on aphids and other small unwanted insects. Apple flowers need the help of bee pollinators in order to produce fruits. Farmers often put colonies of bees in orchards to ensure that this occurs. Examples of three pollinator groups (L-R): skippers on swamp milkweed, hover fly on daisy fleabane, hummingbird on delphinium. 4 POLLINATORS GUIDE Monarchs and skippers are just two conspicuous examples of the many butterflies (Lepidoptera) that visit flowers for nectar. As well, they use plants as hosts, providing food for their larvae. Hummingbirds are also pollinators, being particularly associated with red, tubular flowers with copious amounts of energy-rich nectar. www.davidsuzuki.org 5 Agapostemon virescens ~ female vine wild flower vine wild flower A.K.A. bicoloured agapostemon attracts bees stinger floral specialist attracts bees stinger floral specialist shrubs (multiple stems) attracts attractsbutterflies bees shrubs (multiple attracts flies stems) attracts butterflies hive nester vine no stinger attracts flies wild flower hivevine nester ground nester shrubs ground nester nosolitary stinger beestems) attracts social butterflies bee solitary bee shrubs (multiple attracts bees (multiple attracts flies stems) attracts butterflies hive nester vine wild flower vine wild flower stinger social bee attracts bees vine wild flower attracts flies wild vineflower twig or wood nester floral parasite specialist twig additional orattracts wood materials nester floral parasite generalist materials floral generalist ground nester stinger no stinger stinger social bee additional nosolitary stinger social bee solitary bee attracts bees shrubs (multiple stems) shrubs attracts butterflies attracts flies attracts bees (multiple stems) attracts butterflies shrubs (multiple stems) attracts attracts butterflies bees shrubs (multiple flies stems) attracts butterflies attracts fliesbee hive nester hive nester in nest building in nest building no stinger floral specialist stinger social bee twig or wood nester floral parasite specialist twignosolitary orstinger woodbee nester floral parasite specialist additional orstinger wood materials nester ground floral parasite generalist additional materials stinger no stinger social bee solitary no stinger social beebee ground nester twig nester social bee solitary bee in nest building in nest building twig additional or woodmaterials nester in nest building floral specialist additional twig wood nestertwig parasite floralorspecialist or wood nester floral parasite generalist materials floral generalist in nest building This black and bright-green colour pattern makes Agapostemon virescens the most easily identified bee species in Eastern Canada. While some Agapostemon species are solitary, A. virescens lives in communal groups with up to 20 females sharing a nest. You are most likely to spot these bees on flowers during the morning in early summer. The Toronto area is home to four species within the genus Agapostemon. To differentiate female A. virescens from its ‘cousins’ in the genus, look for the black back-half: females of the other three species in the genus are uniformly bright green. 6 Agapostemon virescens ~ male A.K.A. bicoloured agapostemon POLLINATORS GUIDE hive wild nester flower ground hivenester nester attracts flies hive nester floral generalist ground nester solitary bee ground nester additional floral generalist parasitematerials additional materials in nest building in nest building floral generalist To spot the males of our four Agapostemon species, look for their bright-green front half, then check for a black and yellow striped backhalf. Abundant in August and September, males swarm around exposed hedges and flowering shrubs such as hollyhocks and rose of Sharon. During the day, these flowering shrubs are a rendezvous point for the sexes, but at night, the males sleep in the flowers alone. Like males of all bee species, Agapostemon males cannot sting: only females have the necessary apparatus. www.davidsuzuki.org 7 Andrena ~ female vine attracts vinebees wild flower A.K.A. solitary mining bees attracts bees stinger attracts bees floral specialist shrubswild (multiple flowerstems) attracts butterflies attracts flies hive nester A.K.A. wool carder bee attracts attracts flies vinebees shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies attracts bees no stinger shrubssocial (multiple butterflies vinebeestems) attracts wild flower stinger solitary bee stinger floral nospecialist stinger twig orsocial woodbee nester floral specialist twig or wood nester parasite stinger attracts bees shrubswild (multiple stems) attracts butterflies flower hive nester stinger attracts flies no stinger ground nester hive nester vine floral specialist social bee vine attracts flies no stinger hive socialnester bee solitary bee ground nester wild flower twig or wood nester solitary bee parasite ground nester additional materials in nest building floral generalist wild flower attracts attracts bees flies twig shrubs (multiple butterflies attracts flies hive nester floral specialist orsolitary wood nester parasite materials additional materials floral generalist ground nester additional social bee beestems) attracts vine attracts flies vine stems) attracts wildbutterflies flower inattracts nest building in nestbees building shrubs (multiple shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies twig orstinger wood nester parasite no stinger floral specialist hive nester floralwild generalist flower hive nester vine attracts bees shrubs (multiple butterflies attractsnester flies parasite additional materials floral generalist hive nester ground nester ground solitary stingerbee no stinger social beestems) attracts solitary bee shrubsstinger (multiple stems) attracts butterflies attracts flies attracts bees shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies hive nester innonest building ground nester stinger social bee solitary bee additional floral specialist materials twig floral orstinger wood generalist nester floral specialist woodbee nester stinger innonest building twig orsocial twig or wood nester POLLINATORS GUIDE parasite no stinger parasitebee solitary additional floral generalist social materials bee solitary bee additional ground nester no generalist stinger instinger nestmaterials building floral in nest building floral specialist twig or wood nester parasite parasite additional materials floral specialist generalist in nest building Andrena species are solitary mining bees. There are dozens of species of this genus in Toronto and they vary in size and colouration. Some nest in bare soil, while others prefer the dense grass of your lawn. Most species of Andrena are active in spring, and enjoy visiting willow trees for pollen. Species active late in the year often favour goldenrod as a food source. 8 Anthidium manicatum ~ female additional materials twig or woodbuilding nester in nest ground nester social bee wild flower attracts flies hive nester solitary bee ground nester floral generalist parasite additional materials in nest building floral generalist Introduced to North America from Europe, the wool carder bee gathers ultra-fine plant fibers to build its nest—hence the name. Because this bee has adapted easily to city life, the wool carder bee is a common sight in Toronto. You should find males of this species hovering around purple flowers such as sage, where they will fiercely defend the nest-lining and pollen and nectar resources that the females collect. Persistent trespassers beware–males will crush intruders using spines at the end of their abdomen. www.davidsuzuki.org 9 Apis mellifera ~ female attracts bees A.K.A. domesticated honey bee shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies attracts flies hive nester A.K.A. wood nesting augochlorine vine wild flower vine attracts bees attracts bees vine shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies attracts bees stinger shrubsno(multiple attracts butterflies bees shrubssolitary attracts (multiple flies stems) attracts attracts butterflies bees hive nester stinger stinger no stinger no social stinger bee ground nester stingerstems) attracts social bee bee floral specialist stinger social bee parasite floralstinger specialist stinger twig ornowood nester floral specialist twig or wood nester floralparasite specialist wild vineflower stinger shrubs attracts (multiple bees attracts (multiple stems) attracts attracts butterflies wild flower vinebutterflies wild flowerflies attracts fliesstems)shrubs floral specialist hive nester twig floral orspecialist wood nestertwigfloral or wood parasite nester ground nester no solitary stinger bee social stinger bee additional materials generalist in nest building twig additional or woodmaterials nester in nest building POLLINATORS GUIDE wild flower no stinger social bee solitary bee ground nester flies nester vine twigattracts orhive wood nester hive nester wild flower parasite vinematerials additional in nest building wildgeneralist flower floral shrubs attracts (multiple flies attracts butterflies bees attracts (multiple flies stems) attracts butterflies hive nester hive nester ground nester shrubs ground nester social solitary bee beestems) attracts solitary bee attracts flies hive nester additional parasite materialsadditional floral generalist materials ground nester solitary no stinger bee stinger social bee in nest building in nest building solitary bee ground nester floral parasite generalist specialist additional twig or wood materials nester floral parasite generalist specialist in nest building Just look at the photo—it’s the prototypical bee. But the honey bee is a foreigner. Originally introduced by early European settlers for honey production, the honey bee is now an essential part of the agricultural industry as a pollinator of food crops. Sadly, these helpful creatures are not as common in Toronto as they were 20 years ago, due to a variety of diseases. If you have ever seen a swarm of bees, it’s the start of a new hive. A newly emerged queen inherits the old nest with half of the colony’s workers while the old queen heads off with the rest to start again. 10 Augochlora pura ~ female floral generalist nosolitary stingerbee twig additional or woodmaterials nester in nest building ground nester social bee floral parasite generalist additional materials in nest building floral generalist Look for this bright green bee anywhere that fallen trees are left to rot, such as ravines and clearings. It’s the only bright green bee you can find, in Toronto, nesting in wood. Just as some bees burrow into the ground to build a nest, this bee burrows into soft, rotting wood. You’ll see the females show up first in early summer. Later in the season, their daughters emerge to gorge on nectar and find a mate—to spot the male, look for its cylindrical body. www.davidsuzuki.org 11 Bombus griseocollis ~ female vine attracts bees wild flower A.K.A. brown-belted bumble bee attracts bees stinger attracts bees floral specialist stinger floral specialist shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies no stinger attracts flies attracts bees vinebee social twig or wood nester floralparasite specialist twig floral orspecialist woodbee nestertwig or wood parasite nester ground nester no solitary stinger social stinger bee twig additional or woodmaterials nester in nest building POLLINATORS GUIDE attracts flies hive nester wild flower no stinger social bee solitary bee ground nester flies nester vine twig attracts orhive wood nester hive nester wild flower parasite vinematerials additional in nest building wildgeneralist flower floral shrubs attracts (multiple flies stems) attracts attracts butterflies bees attracts (multiple flies stems) attracts butterflies hive nester hive nester ground nester shrubs ground nester social solitary bee bee solitary bee attracts flies hive nester additional parasite materialsadditional floral generalist materials ground nester solitary no stinger bee stinger social bee in nest building in nest building solitary bee ground nester floral parasite generalist specialist additional twig or wood materials nester floralparasite generalist specialist in nest building Bombus griseocollis is one of approximately 12 species of bumble bee found in the Toronto area although the number is declining and some species have disappeared. Bumble bees have distinctive black and yellow bands of soft fuzzy hair. Some species also have orange or red bands. Every spring, each mated and over-wintered queen finds a nest site and begins its colony by producing a brood of workers (usually in an abandoned rodent burrow). In late summer, the colony switches from producing worker bees to developing males and next year’s queens. The colony gradually dies out as the workers succumb to old age and the cold of the first frosts. 12 wild vineflower stinger shrubs attracts (multiple bees stems)shrubs attracts (multiple stems) attracts attracts butterflies wild flower vinebutterflies wild flowerflies floral specialist ground nester solitary bee floral specialist stinger social bee shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies A.K.A. small carpenter bee hivevine nester shrubs stems) attracts attracts butterflies bees shrubs attracts (multiple flies stems) attracts attracts butterflies bees hive nester twig or(multiple wood nester parasite additional materials floral generalist stinger stinger no stinger no social stinger bee in nest building no stinger Ceratina calcarata ~ female floral generalist no solitary stingerbee twig additional or woodmaterials nester in nest building ground nester social bee floral parasite generalist additional materials in nest building floral generalist There are several species within the genus Ceratina, commonly known as small carpenter bees, in the Toronto area. But it’s extremely difficult to distinguish between them. Look for these bees among raspberry, bramble and fennel plants, where they nest in the dead pithy stems. Males have larger ivory-coloured spots on their face. The small carpenter bees are one of the few pollinators you can find in midwinter: they hibernate in the old stem nests and they can be discovered if you snap open the stem. www.davidsuzuki.org 13 Colletes inaequalis ~ female vine wild flower vine wild flower A.K.A. common spring colletes attracts bees stinger attracts bees floral specialist shrubs (multiple stems) attracts attracts butterflies bees attracts bees no stinger shrubsattracts (multiple stems) attracts hivebutterflies nester vine flies wild flower shrubssocial (multiple butterflies vinebeestems) attracts wild flower stinger no solitary stinger bee attracts attracts bees flies vinenester ground social bee shrubs (multiple stems) attracts attracts butterflies bees shrubs (multiple flies stems) attracts attracts butterflies bees hive nester twig orstinger wood nester floral parasite specialist twig additional orattracts woodmaterials nester floral parasite generalist no stinger social bee solitary stinger bee in nest building stinger floral nospecialist stinger twig orsocial woodbee nester stinger parasite no solitary stinger bee floral specialist twig or wood nester floralparasite specialist twig additional or woodmaterials nester in nest building POLLINATORS GUIDE attracts flies hivevine nester shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies hive nester wild flower vine ground nester solitary bee wild flower attracts flies wild flower hivevine nester wild flower shrubs attracts fliesstems) attracts attracts butterflies bees shrubs attracts (multiple flies stems) attracts hive nester hivebutterflies nester additional materials floral generalist vine wild flower ground nester ground nester no(multiple stinger social bee solitary bee in nest building attracts flies hive nester hive nester floral generalist ground nester social bee solitary bee ground nester additional materials in nest building floral generalist attracts bees shrubs stems) attracts butterflies attracts flies additional floral specialist materials twig floral orno(multiple wood generalist nester parasite additional materials ground nester ground nester social stinger bee solitary stinger bee social stinger bee solitary no stinger bee in nest building in nest building floral parasite generalist specialist stinger additional twig or materials nester nowood stinger in nest building floral parasite generalist specialist social bee twig additional or woodmaterials nester solitary bee in nest building floral parasite generalist ground nester floral specialist twig or wood nester parasite additional materials in nest building floral generalist Bees in the genus Colletes are also known as cellophane bees. This common name refers to the transparent, plastic-like material that they use to line their nests. This unique waterproof lining enables the mother to provide a watery mixture of nectar and pollen for her offspring. Some cellophane bees are among the earliest bees to emerge in spring, when they collect pollen from maple and other trees. Next time you are walking on a dirt footpath in the Don Valley, see if you can spot groups of male cellophane bees fighting for mating opportunities with emerging females. Additional species of cellophane bees are active in summer or fall and the later ones are particularly fond of goldenrod as a food source. 14 Halictus ligatus ~ female A.K.A. the ligated sweat bee Have you had an encounter with a mean bee with an enormous head, a bee whose bite is worse than its sting? It’s probably Halictus ligatus. This social bee is found in spring through to late summer. In summer each nest will contain one queen and a few workers. But things are not all harmonious in these small societies. Females can use their large heads to bite, sometimes even decapitating misbehaving nest-mates. There are three other species in the genus Halictus in our area, but only this species has such an extremely large head and aggressive behaviour. www.davidsuzuki.org 15 Hoplitis ~ female attracts bees attracts bees shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies A.K.A. black mason bee attracts bees shrubs (multiple butterflies vine stems) attracts wildspecialist flower attracts bees floral shrubsstinger (multiple stems) attracts attracts butterflies bees no stinger wild flower no stinger shrubsattracts (multiple flies stems) attracts attracts butterflies bees hive nester vinebee wild flower social solitary bee stinger no stinger stinger attracts bees floral nospecialist stinger floral specialist twig orstinger wood nester floral parasite specialist no stinger twig additional orsocial woodmaterials nester bee in nest building floral specialist twig or wood nester parasite hive nester wild flower no stinger solitary bee social nester bee ground solitary bee ground nester vinematerials attracts flies twig or wood nester additional in nest building wildgeneralist flower hive nester parasite floral vinematerials additional in nest building wildgeneralist flower floral shrubs attracts (multiple fliesstems) attracts attracts bees hive butterflies nester ground nester social bee solitary bee shrubs attracts (multiple flies stems) attracts hivebutterflies nester ground nester attracts flies hive nester hive nester floral solitary nogeneralist stinger bee parasite ground nester social stinger bee additional materials in nest building solitary nogeneralist stinger bee floral ground social nester bee solitary bee ground nester floral parasite generalist specialist solitary bee additional twigground or wood materials nester nester in nest building floralparasite generalist specialist twig additional or woodmaterials nester in nest building floral parasite generalist additional materials in nest building floral generalist additional materials in nest building floral generalist shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies flies twig orsocial woodbee nester parasite additional materials ground nester stinger solitary no stinger bee twig social stinger bee floral specialist orattracts wood nester in nest building POLLINATORS GUIDE vine bee stinger social attracts hive nester vine wild flower shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies floral specialist twig or woodflies nester parasite These stem-nesting bees have a clever trick—they often leave the brood cell closest to the entrance empty, fooling predators into thinking the nest has been abandoned. Inside the nest, different brood cells are separated with plugs of chewed-up leaves. These bees prefer to find bamboo canes and other stems in your garden—just look at the photo above to see one emerging from a bamboo cane. There are four or five species in this genus in Toronto, with one of them introduced from Europe. 16 attracts flies A.K.A. masked bee vine stinger attracts bees Hylaeus ~ female shrubsattracts (multipleflies stems) attracts hivebutterflies nester Hylaeus species are often referred to as the masked bees. You can see why when examining the bright white face of the male. The females, though, usually have just a pair of triangular white spots. There are as many as 12 species in male Toronto. Like Colletes, they line their nest with cellophane-like secretions. But unlike their relatives, they make their nests in dead pithy stems. Raspberry canes and bramble stems are favourites of these bees. At night, you can often see the males resting in the stems, their bright white faces near the entrance. www.davidsuzuki.org 17 Lasioglossum (Dialictus) ~ male vine wild flower vine wild flower A.K.A. small dull green sweat bee attracts bees stinger attracts bees floral specialist shrubs (multiple stems) attracts attracts butterflies bees attracts bees no stinger A.K.A. evening primrose lasioglossum shrubsattracts (multiple stems) attracts hivebutterflies nester vine flies wild flower shrubssocial (multiple attracts butterflies bees vinebeestems) attracts wildstinger flower stinger solitary no bee shrubs (multiple stems) attracts attracts butterflies bees shrubs attracts (multiple flies stems) attracts butterflies hive nester twig orstinger wood nester floral parasite specialist twig additional or wood materials nester floral parasite generalist no stinger social stinger bee solitary no stinger bee in nest building stinger floral nospecialist stinger twig orsocial woodbee nester stinger floral parasite specialist solitary no stinger bee twig additional orsocial wood materials nester ground nester bee in nest building floral specialist twig or wood nester floral parasite specialist twig additional or wood materials nester in nest building attracts bees floral parasite generalist stinger POLLINATORS GUIDE attracts vine flies shrubs attracts (multiple flies stems) attracts hive nester vinenester wildbutterflies flower ground social bee solitary bee There are over 50 species in the genus Lasioglossum in Toronto. Some species are social like Halictus ligatus pictured on page 15, while others floral specialist are solitary, like the following species. Most nest in the ground. You can find these bees right through the spring, summer and fall. They are so abundant that they are regularly found many stories up in the flower boxes of high-rise buildings. The genus Lasioglossum is a complex one, with many species difficult to identify. This is particularly true of the subgenus Dialictus, the dull metallic coloured species in the group, a male of which is illustrated here. Some species have a bumble bee-like colony cycle, but with only one brood of workers in summer. 18 Lasioglossum oenotherae ~ female attracts flies additional materials ground socialnester bee in nest building floral parasite generalist solitary bee hive flower nester wild attractsnester flies attracts bees ground hive nester floral generalist solitary bee stinger nesterstems) attracts butterflies shrubshive (multiple ground nester no stinger social bee floral specialist attracts flies no stinger twig orsolitary wood bee nester wild flower attracts flies hive nester solitary bee wild flower ground nester attractsmaterials flies additional in nest building floral hivegeneralist nester hive nester social bee solitary bee ground nester ground nester parasite additional materials in nest building floral generalist social vinebee additional floral generalist ground nester attracts bees shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies vinematerials flower floral specialist twig orwild wood nester parasite in nest building shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies additional materials floral generalist stinger in nest building no stinger vine You have to get up early in the morning to witness this bee – Lasioglossum oenotherae. Active from before dawn, they usually stop twig or wood nester work parasiteby 9additional floralbees generalist are common in urban gardens because they AM.materials These in nest building collect pollen only from sundrops and evening primroses. Why do these bees get up so early? The pollen grains produced by their host plants are held together by fine, sticky threads– the first bee to get to a flower can rake out that flower’s entire pollen supply. www.davidsuzuki.org 19 Megachile ~ female attracts bees shrubs (multiple vine stems) attracts wildbutterflies flower A.K.A. leaf cutter bee stinger floral specialist attracts flies hive nester A.K.A. long-horned bee attracts vine bees attracts bees Melissodes druriella ~ female shrubs (multiple butterflies vine wild flower wild flower stems) attracts stinger no stinger attracts beesstems) shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies bees shrubs (multiple attracts butterflies attracts flies stinger nospecialist stinger floral stinger no stinger floral specialist no stinger social bee twigsolitary orstinger wood nester social bee bee vine attracts flies vinebee social hive nester wild flower solitary bee ground nester vine shrubs attracts (multiple flies stems) attracts butterflies attracts flies hive nester hive nesterstems) attracts butterflies attracts bees shrubs (multiple hive nester ground nester social bee solitary bee twig or wood nester parasite additional materials floral generalist in nest building parasite solitary no stinger bee ground nester wild flower additional materials ground nester social bee in nest building floral generalist solitary bee vine stinger ground nester wild flower no stinger social vinebee floral specialist orparasite wood nester floral parasite specialist twig or generalist wood materials nester shrubs floral parasite generalist materials floral generalist attracts bees (multiple attracts butterflies attracts flies twig or wood nester twig materials additional floral attracts bees shrubs stems) attracts butterflies hive nester floral specialist twig or(multiple wood nester parasite attracts bees shrubs (multiple stems) additional attracts butterflies attracts flies hive nesterstems) additional in nest building in nest building in nest building stinger no stinger social bee floral specialist twig or wood nester parasite stingerbee solitary no stinger ground nester wild flower attracts flies hive nester solitary bee wild flower ground nester attractsmaterials flies additional in nest building floral hivegeneralist nester social bee stinger solitary bee no stinger ground socialnester bee solitary bee ground nester parasite floral specialist additional materials twig or wood nester in nest building floralparasite generalist additional materials in nest building floral generalist female floral specialist or wood nester additional materials twig floral generalist in nest building Have you ever found neat, semicircular holes in the leaves of your prized roses? That’s the work of Megachile. These little leaf munchers slice off a piece of leaf while holding onto it, then fly off at the moment their mandibles complete the cut. There are perhaps 20 species of leaf-cutter bee in Toronto. One of them is the alfalfa leafcutter bee, Megachile rotundata, which is managed across Canada for alfalfa pollination. An introduced species, M. rotundata visits the flowers in your garden and nests in old dry stems and other cavities in the backyard. 20 POLLINATORS GUIDE One look at the extremely long antennae of the males and it’s not hard to figure out how these insects picked up the name long-horned bees. While there are several species in Toronto, only one is commonly found. Males can be seen asleep male in sunflowers and dahlias at the end of the day in late summer. Females can be found earlier in the day, collecting pollen on their very hairy hind-legs. www.davidsuzuki.org 21 Nomada ~ female vine Osmia ~ female attracts bees wild flower shrubs (multiple butterflies vine stems) attracts wild flower hive nester A.K.A. green mason bee A.K.A. nomad bees vine wild flower wild flower stinger nobutterflies stinger shrubs (multiple attracts fliesstems) attracts hive nester attracts bees vine attracts bees shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies attracts bees attracts beesstems) shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies shrubs (multiple attracts butterflies attracts flies floral specialist stinger no stinger stinger attracts flies hive nester twig or wood nester social bee ground nester social flies bee attracts solitary bee hive nester ground nester hive nester parasite solitary bee additional materials ground nester in nest building floral generalist no stinger social bee solitary bee floralstinger specialist stinger twig ornostinger wood nester no stinger social bee floral specialist parasite social bee solitary bee vinematerials twig or wood nester additional in nest building floral specialist floral specialist orparasite wood nester parasite materials floral generalist attracts bees shrubs (multiple twig or wood nester twig materials additional floral generalist attracts bees shrubs (multiple stems) additional attracts butterflies attracts flies hive nesterstems) attracts butterflies in nest building in nest building stinger no stinger social bee floral specialist twig or wood nester parasite Toronto has more than 20 species of nomad bees. Brightly coloured and wasp-like, these bees have patterns that vary from yellow and black striped; to orange and yellow; to plain bright-orange. You’ll often see them flying on a sunny spring day around south-facing earthen banks as they search for the nests of their Andrena hosts. They are cuckoo bees, like the Triepeolus shown on page 26, that lay eggs in the nests of other bees. 22 attracts flies POLLINATORS GUIDE solitary bee ground nester wild flower parasite floral generalist stingerbee solitary ground materials nester additional in nest building no stinger ground nester floral specialist or wood nester additional materials twig floral generalist in nest building vine floral generalist wild flower attracts flies hive nester social bee solitary bee ground nester parasite additional materials in nest building floral generalist There are over a dozen species of Osmia in Toronto. You can find these squarish looking bees on dandelions in early spring. These bees build their homes in some amazing and peculiar places: snail shells, the nests of other bees, or a simple hole in a piece of wood–they are even known to nest in keyholes, lining the sides with mud and chewed leaves to make it their own. www.davidsuzuki.org 23 Peponapis pruinosa ~ female vine Sphecodes ~ female wild flower vine A.K.A. hoary squash bee attracts bees shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies attracts vine flies stinger attracts bees no stinger shrubssocial (multiple butterflies beestems) attracts solitary bee floral specialist twig orstinger wood nester parasite no stinger additional social materials bee in nest building floral specialist twig or wood nester parasite POLLINATORS GUIDE vine wild flower A.K.A. sphecodes bees hive flower nester wild attracts bees vine shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies attracts bees attracts flies attracts bees ground nester stinger hive nesterstems) attracts shrubs (multiple butterflies no stinger social bee stinger floral generalist solitary bee stinger floral specialist ground nester no stinger twig or wood nester wild flower attracts flies hivebutterflies nester shrubs (multiple stems) attracts attracts flies hive nester attracts flies solitary bee no stinger hive nester ground nester social bee solitary bee ground nester vine social bee parasite floral specialist wild flower solitary bee additional materials twig or wood nester in nest building ground nester floral generalist parasite additional materials in nest building floral generalist additional materials floral generalist attracts bees shrubs stems) attracts butterflies floral specialist twig or (multiple wood nester parasite in nest building attractsmaterials flies additional in nest building hivegeneralist nester floral social bee solitary bee ground nester parasite additional materials in nest building floral generalist stinger no stinger floral specialist twig or wood nester Next time you eat a zucchini, you should thank a hoary squash bee. Responsible for pollinating a large proportion of the zucchinis and other squashes in North America, these bees can be seen tumbling in and out of squash flowers on sunny summer mornings. Although native to North America, squash plants are not native to northern areas like Toronto. The hoary squash bee accompanied early agriculturalists as they brought their favourite squash varieties northward. 24 wild flower Most bees collect pollen on a variety of hairs. But like Triepeolus and Nomada bees, Sphecodes let other bees do their work for them. They lay their eggs on the pollen balls constructed by their hosts, species of Lasioglossum. This means that Sphecodes don’t have to collect pollen, so they don’t need the hairs to carry it. Getting eggs into a host nest is not always easy. Females often have to fight their way into the nests of social Lasioglossum bees, and thus have developed thick armour to protect themselves. The image above shows a mating pair; only the head and antennae of the male can be seen. There are as many as 20 species of shiny, black and red Sphecodes bees in Toronto. www.davidsuzuki.org 25 Triepeolus pectoralis ~ female attracts bees shrubs (multiple stems) attracts butterflies attracts bees attracts flies A.K.A. white shouldered triepeolus stinger no stinger Xylocopa virginica ~ female shrubshive (multiple stems) attracts butterflies nester nostinger stinger floral specialist no stinger stinger social bee vine stinger wild flowerbee solitary wild flower vine no stinger ground nester social bee no stinger solitary bee solitary bee social ground nester wild flower social bee solitary bee ground nester attracts flies hive nester parasite hive nester additional materials in nest building floral generalist ground nester solitary bee ground vinenester wild flower floral specialist orparasite wood nester additional materials floral(multiple generalist attracts bees shrubs stems) attracts specialist twig parasite or wood nester additional parasite additional materials floral butterflies generalist twig or wood nester twigfloral materials floral generalist in nest building in nest building in nest building There is a fascinating relationship between the bees of genus Triepeolus and the long-horned bees. Like the nomad bees, Triepeolus are a type of cuckoo bee that reproduce by laying their eggs inside the brood cells of long-horned bees. If you see cuckoo bees flying low over the ground, they are probably looking for host nests to lay their eggs. Triepeolus pectoralis attacks several species of long-horned bee, including Melissodes druriella, the species shown on page 21. 26 POLLINATORS GUIDE hive nester A.K.A. Virginian carpenter bee vine bee social attracts beesstems) (multiple stems) attracts butterflies attracts flies attracts bees shrubs (multiple stems) twig attracts butterflies attractsspecialist bees shrubs (multiple attracts butterflies attracts flies floral specialist or wood nester hive nester floral twig or wood nester shrubs parasite additional materials floral generalist in nest building stinger attracts flies attracts flies hive nester stinger no stinger social bee solitary bee ground nester floral specialist twig or wood nester parasite additional materials in nest building floral generalist Commonly known as large carpenter bees, these bees are often mistaken for bumble bees, and can be found throughout the spring and summer. Although more common in warmer climates, there is only one species in Toronto, Xylocopa virginica. The females excavate nests in wooden structures such as park benches and grape arbours, making perfectly circular, nickel-sized holes. Although you might consider it a pest if it burrows into your patio furniture, they are fascinating to watch. If you are worried about it destroying something important, painting or staining the surface might deter it. But try replacing its home by putting a tempting piece of wood adjacent—carpenter bees like to nest close to where they were born. www.davidsuzuki.org 27 Toxomerus marginatus e! Merodon equestris A.K.A. narcissus bulb fly e! -Be a n n a W -Be a n n a W This picture shows a mating pair of Toxomerus marginatus, one of many species of hover or flower flies that can be found in Toronto. As well as pollinating the flowers in your garden, these insects are beneficial in additional ways: their larvae are active predators of small insects such as aphids. Although there are some exceptions to their helpfulness, as the next example illustrates. Merodon equestris is a species of hover fly that mimics bumble bees. Although it is itself incapable of stinging, by looking like a bee it can avoid being eaten by predators that have learned to avoid stinging insects. This species was introduced from Europe. Its common name – narcissus bulb fly, gives away the reason it is an unwelcome visitor to the garden – its larvae burrow through the bulbs of garden plants. 28 POLLINATORS GUIDE www.davidsuzuki.org 29 Polistes dominulus A.K.A. paper wasp Wild Strawberry ~ Cabbage White Butterfly ee! -B Wanna Polistes dominulus is a paper wasp that arrived in Canada less than 15 years ago having been brought into North America from Europe. It has since become abundant. It is easily identified by its yellow and black pattern and orange antennae. This is a social wasp with a colony cycle similar to that of bumble bees. It hunts for caterpillars and other insects in your garden to feed to its larvae while the adult wasps themselves need energy from nectar to enable them to hunt on the wing. 30 POLLINATORS GUIDE The cabbage white butterfly was also brought to Canada from Europe. Although potentially a useful pollinator, its caterpillars eat a wide variety of cruciferous plants and can put you off your salad if you find one amongst the leaves. www.davidsuzuki.org 31 Monarch Butterfly The monarch butterfly is a marvel. In fall, the adult butterflies that you see in Toronto fly all the way to Mexico, gliding for as much of the journey as possible because this method of flying uses the least energy. The millions of colourful adults overwinter in a very restircted area where they turn the trees orange. The following spring, the butterflies move northwards to breed and it is several generations later that they arrive back in Canada. The late summer adults fly all the way back to Mexico even though it was their grandparents, or great grandparents that last made that journey. The caterpillars of monarchs eat milkweed leaves. 32 POLLINATORS GUIDE Bumble Bee Hawk Moth This insect looks like a bumble bee but is actually a day flying moth. It is called the bumble bee hawk moth and it takes some patience to be able to see one clearly: they fly fast between flowers appearing merely as a blur, but every now and then they hover long enough for you to get a clear view. They have very long tongues that can reach deep into flowers to get the nectar that fuels their activities. They are often seen flying around flowering lilac bushes in Toronto. Their bumble bee appearance serves to dissuade potential predators from attacking them. www.davidsuzuki.org 33 Flower Longhorned Beetle What You Can Do For Pollinators • Create a pollinator-friendly garden habitat. • Design your garden so that there is a continuous succession of plants flowering from spring through fall. •Use plants native to your region that provide nectar, pollen, and/or that act as host plants for butterflies, bees and other insects. •Provide nesting sites, such as dry stems, wood blocks drilled with variously sized holes for twig-nesting bees or a small sunny patch of bare ground for ground-nesting bees. •Avoid pesticides. •Avoid mulches whenever possible; they prevent ground-nesting bees from living in your garden. • Supply water for all wildlife. A suspended milk carton with a pinhole in the bottom works well, but avoid standing water, which provides a breeding habitat for mosquitoes. •Remember that one out of every three mouthfuls of food we eat is dependent on the free service provided by a pollinator. Many types of beetle can be found on flowers, but some types of longhorn beetle are among the most common. As adults they tank up on nectar, but the larvae of these beetles burrow through wood and can be found beneath the bark, especially of dead trees. Species of the genus Evodinus as pictured here are commonly called flower longhorn beetles because they are so often found on flowers. Native bees can nest in many places in your garden, such as in dead twigs (left) or in sandy soil (right). 34 POLLINATORS GUIDE www.davidsuzuki.org 35 P llinators Photo Credits: All images by Amro Zayed except, pages 25, 29 & 34 by Steve Marshall, and pages 4, 5, 35 by Victoria MacPhail Writing Credits: Text written by Laurence Packer, York University except pages 4, 5, 35 by Victoria MacPhail www.davidsuzuki.org THE CITY INSTITUTE Printed by onyourmarksprint.com using vegetable-based inks on FSC paper.
