Native Bees in Agriculture
Annette M. Meredith
University of Maryland
meredith@mdsg.umd.edu
Pollinators
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Pollinate crops and wild plants
Vectors for genetic exchange
Essential for obligate mutualisms
Habitat provides other ecosystem
services
• Biodiversity value
Pollinators in Peril?
Pollinator Decline
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Habitat loss due to land use change
Parasites, disease
Pesticides, herbicides
Nonnative pollinators
Monocultures
GM crops
Climate change
Protected lands limited
Honeybees
Colony Collapse Disorder
Photo: Keith Delaplane
CCD Affected States
Native Pollinators
What is a bee?
Which one is a bee?
Overcoming Aversion to Bees
Term for Non-honeybees
Respondent preference
Nfarmers=102 / Nsci/mgr=89
Agricultural
Producers
(%)
Scientists
Managers
(%)
Native bees
42.2
53.9
Non-Apis bees
4.9
3.4
Pollen bees
2.9
2.3
Pollinating bees
39.2
29.2
Solitary bees
2.9
2.2
Wild bees
7.9
9.0
Native Bee Diversity
Native Bee Census
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12 mixed vegetable farms (MD, PA, WV)
11 CSAs, 1 former farm
<15 acres
6 habitat types
Accumula ted spec ies
Species by Sampling Effort
60.00
40.00
20.00
0.00
50.00
100.00
Samples
150.00
Native Bee Census
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>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
Native Bee Census
7.00
n=441
6.00
Average Number of bees / transect
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
June
July
August
3.00
Agapostemon virescens
(Females)
n=128
2.50
2.00
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
June
Crop
July
Law n
Meadow
August
Shrub
Forest
Wetland
Halictus ligatus
(Females)
Bees on Farms
Forage
Nest Sites
Sweat Bees
• Halictidae
Digger Bees
• Andrena, Colletes…
Bumblebees
• Bombus
Alkali Bees
• Nomia melanderi
Squash Bees
• Peponapsis pruinosa
Leafcutter Bees
• Megachile
Carpenter Bees
• Xylocopa, Ceratina
Mason Bees
• Osmia
Polyester Bees
• Colletes
Bee Identification
http://www.discoverlife.org/
Bee Keys with Photos
Bumblebee ID
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2008/080128.htm
Bumblebee
Wallet Guide
Bumblebee
Wallet Guide
Acknowledgements
Funding
USDA Northeast
Sustainable Agriculture
Research and Education
University of Virginia
Blandy Experimental Farm
Maryland
Sea Grant
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
Questions ?
Annette M. Meredith
University of Maryland
meredith@mdsg.umd.edu