Flatbush Gardener 🌈Jun 20, 2023

1/ It's Pollinator Week, and time for the topical memes I created. But before we get into that, I want to share this excellent publication released just last week by the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation ("Xerces)":

Why Getting a Hive Won't "Save the Bees"
https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/publications/22-011.pdf

PDF, 8pp, the last of which is a full page of References.

#Bees #Conservation #Honeybees #Pollinators #PollinatorWeek #Xerces #XercesSociety #Ecology #BioDiversity #Agriculture

cc: @darwin

Show threadFlatbush Gardener 🌈Jun 20, 2023

2/n

#Bees #Conservation #Honeybees #Pollinators #PollinatorWeek #Ecology #BioDiversity #Agriculture

cc: @darwin

Show threadFlatbush Gardener 🌈Jun 20, 2023

3/n

#Bees #Conservation #Honeybees #Pollinators #PollinatorWeek #Ecology #BioDiversity #Agriculture

cc: @darwin

Show threadwhoops

@xris @darwin

I keep honeybees, and this is a peeve of mine. Honeybees aren't even native to North America and, due to their large colony size and nectar-hoarding behavior, can out-compete native pollinators for food. Beekeepers will save the honeybees, save the native pollinators!

Jul 18, 2023 at 1:07amWeb
Show threadMycotropicJul 18, 2023
@whoops @xris @darwin I don't keep bees but I keep native #perennials in #Colorado, my locals out work #HoneyBees primarily because they show up early and stay late! Not a value judgement, we likely need all #pollinators at this point, but native species are cute and don't appear to compete as much as you might think!
Show threadwhoopsJul 18, 2023
@mycotropic @xris @darwin Glad to hear you've got plenty of natives! I'm not trying to discourage people from caring about honeybees, but they tend to steal all the focus, despite having tons of research and active management. There's more than enough commercial interest in honeybees to ensure they are covered. Natives are the ones who need grassroots support because there aren't any billion-dollar industries invested in them.
Show threadMycotropicJul 18, 2023
@whoops @xris @darwin and I don't think they can be managed can they, tiny, independent and ground dwelling as I understand our locals. One exception is a wire thin wasp that lives in the ground but runs in packs, stingless as far as I can tell and slow but pollinates roses and anything yellow/pink/baby blue as far as I can tell.
I need to get a good picture of these folks, really lovely!
Show threadwhoopsJul 18, 2023

@mycotropic @xris @darwin

Yeah, most natives don't lend themselves to management. Bumblebees, for example, are extremely gentle in the field, but unlike honeybees are *very* aggressive around their nest (seriously DO NOT mess with a bumblebee nest). There are exceptions though. Mason and leafcutter bees can be kept with low effort and are what I recommend for people just looking for pollination for their garden.

Show threadFlatbush Gardener 🌈Jul 18, 2023

@whoops @mycotropic @darwin
Native bees don't need to be "managed" as directly as honeybees. They just need to be encouraged and supported with forage, nesting sites, and gardening/agricultural practices.

Xerces has done a lot of research in this area, and has information for both gardeners and farmers.

https://xerces.org/publications/guidelines/farming-for-bees

https://beebettercertified.org/

#Xerces #Bees #Conservation

Farming for Bees | Xerces Society

Farming for Bees outlines ways to protect and enhance habitat for native crop pollinators in the farm landscape. Containing a wealth of information about common groups of native bees, their habitat requirements, and conservation strategies to increase their numbers on farms.

Show threadwhoopsJul 18, 2023
@mycotropic @xris @darwin By the way, I love that you're keeping a native garden! It's the biggest thing I think individuals can do to help. Native pollinators often specialize in native plants, and using non-native landscaping hurts their forage. Keep it up!