Eco-Restoration Gypsy

Best websites and books about pollinators and native bees

2010-07-10T13:20:00.001-04:00

Here are the best websites and books about pollinators and native bees in Michigan:

Web sites

Michigan State University http://nativeplants.msu.edu/publications.htm

Attracting Beneficial Insects With Native Flowering Plants. E-2973

Conserving Native Bees on Farmland. E-2985

Xerces Society http://www.xerces.org/guidelines/

Pollinator-Friendly Parks. How to Enhance Parks, Gardens, and other Greenspaces for Native Pollinator Insects

Pollinators in Natural Areas: A Primer on Habitat Management

Farming for Bees: Guidelines for Providing Native Bee Habitat on Farms

Books

Pollinator Conservation Handbook, Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation,

Befriending Bumble Bees, A Practical Guide to Raising Local Bumble Bees, Elaine Evans et al., University of Minnesota Extension,

The Natural History of Bumblebees: A Sourcebook for Investigations, Carol A. Kearns and James D. Thomson, University Press of Colorado, 2001

Early bees

2010-04-11T17:14:00.006-04:00

Most ground-nesting bees are called 'solitary' because they don't make hives or have the roles typical of social bees.

However, large numbers may nest in a relatively small area. In part, this is because desirable nest sites (with bare ground and fairly sandy soil) are often localized. The other reason is it serves reproduction.

When males emerge, they buzz around the area looking for females, usually just a few inches above the ground. When a male detects a female, he will follow into a tunnel.

The nest holes are visible in the sandy soil. They are about the diameter of a pencil. Some have small piles of excavated soil but others do not.

Bee Aware - Blogs and brochures focus on native bees

2010-03-13T10:00:00.004-05:00

The increasing interest in pollinators is leading to many new resources that share information about native bees and native plants. Here are some of my favorites:

http://bumblebeewatch.blogspot.com (Dave Barr, Hamilton, Ontario)

Nelson DeBarros at Penn State created an interesting brochure "Conserving Wild Bees in Pennsylvania" http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/uf023.pdf

Rachel Winfree's lab at Rutgers has one for New Jersey "Native Bee Benefits"
http://winfreelab.rutgers.edu/documents/NativeBeeBenefits2009.pdf

And finally, for global interest, here is a blog about insects and plants in India

http://ringsofsilverpv.blogspot.com/ (Arati in Bangalore)

Enjoy!

2010 events at Mary Beth Doyle Park

2010-02-14T11:35:00.002-05:00

Natural Area Preservation has scheduled several events at Mary Beth Doyle Park in 2010.

Late April & early May - walk the path along Mallets Creek and enjoy the woodland wildflowers. Trout lily, trillium, may apple and other species will be blooming in profusion.

Saturday, June 5, 2010, noon - Celebrate World Environment Day by repairing trails and other stewardship activities.

Thursday, June 17, 2010, 7:00 PM - Join us for a nature hike.

Saturday, October 23, 2010, 10:00 AM - We'll continue our annual tradition of collecting seeds of native grasses at Swift Run, and then distributing them in old field areas at Doyle.

Saturday, November 13, 2010, 9:00 AM - we'll work on trails and other activities to improve the park.

All events are free and open to the public. Wear sturdy shoes and clothes appropriate for outdoor work. Please leave pets at home.

Ride the AATA #7 bus to the Packard entrance, or the #5 to the Platt Rd./Birch Hollow entrance.

Rain garden is awash with flowers

2009-08-09T16:13:00.003-04:00

The rain garden near the Packard entrance of Mary Beth Doyle Park is thriving. I counted seven species in bloom this morning:

spiderwort
bee balm
mountain mint
boneset
evening primrose
sneezeweed
thimbleweed

The spiderwort and bee balm are nearly past, while boneset and thimbleweed are in early stages of their annual bloom.

A long season of bloom is desirable both for aesthetics and to support wildlife. Here's a bee on the boneset flowers.

Volunteers Build Better Trails

2009-04-26T21:28:00.002-04:00

A group of volunteers from Thomson-Reuters did an outstanding job re-routing the trail to Swift Run Park on April 24, 2009.

We'll have more details, and (hopefully) some photos soon.

Michigan researchers find 166 bee species on 15 blueberry farms‏

2009-04-05T10:11:00.002-04:00

A study published in the Annals of the Entomological Society of America (March 2009) shows that wild bees are effective pollinators of food crops. (Farmers in Michigan raised more than 100 million pounds of blueberries in 2007. Each berry was pollinated by a bee.)

The article is available at http://www.entsoc.org/wildbees.htm.

In the article "Wild Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila) of the Michigan Highbush Blueberry Agroecosystem," authors Julianna K. Tuell (Michigan State University), John S. Ascher (American Museum of Natural History), and Rufus Isaacs (Michigan State University) report the results of a three-year study which took place on 15 southwestern Michigan blueberry farms. Using traps and direct observation, the authors identified 166 bee species, 112 of which were active during the blueberry blooming period. Many of these species visit more flowers per minute and deposit more pollen per visit than honey bees (Apis mellifera L.), and most of them are potential blueberry pollinators.

"This should help growers know what kinds of bees are in the fields so that they can make informed decisions about whether they should modify crop management practices in order to help conserve natural populations of bees," said Dr. Julianna Tuell.

Unlike honey bees, which live together in hives, most of the bees found by the authors were solitary bees that nest in the soil or in wood cavities. While soil-nesting bees may be difficult to manage, the authors see potential for cavity-nesting bees, such as several species of mason bees, to be managed by growers who can support their populations by providing nesting materials.

"Untreated bamboo or reeds are good materials because they provide natural variation in hole diameter to attract the broadest range of species," said Dr. Tuell. "There are also a number of commercially manufactured options that growers can use, such as foam blocks with pre-drilled holes and cardboard tubes made to a particular diameter to suit a particular species of interest. Drilling different sized holes in wood is another option. If a grower is interested in trying to build up populations of a particular species, there are also details about how to do so available online."

Besides blueberries, many of the species in this study also visit cherries, apples, and cranberries, and managed mason bees are already being used to pollinate cherry orchards.

Honeybee video shows pollination up close

2009-03-22T10:53:00.003-04:00

While my primary interest is in bees native to the Americas, a video of honeybees shows nectar and pollen collection in breathtaking close ups.

Bees: tales from the hive (This program gives close-up views of honeybees in action - on flowers and inside their hive. The action photography is unparalleled. If you have any interest in honeybees this is a must-see.

Footage of bees' flower visits, with nectar and pollen collection, are breathtaking. The efforts of other creatures to enter the hive, and the bees' response, are vividly shown. Additional coverage inside the hive includes egg-laying, larval growth, and rivalry among would-be queens. Views of a mating flight are pristine.

The narration is American, and the photography is German. The location is somewhere in Europe. This is hardly noticeable in the first few minutes. But when the bee swarm enters a village, and the streetcar comes to a stop, you'll know this is not North America. The woodland sequence is more subtly European.

Seeing this you'll understand why honeybees have fascinated humans for millennia.

Participatory science and computer mapping

2009-03-14T18:02:00.000-04:00

The past two years have seen several web sites where volunteers can record observations about plants, migratory animals, etc.

The grandmother and best example of such sites from an educational viewpoint is Journey North. From February through June, weekly emails advise students and teachers about the migration progress of selected species. My favorite is monarch butterflies, but other prefer hummingbirds, robins, or other species. Unfortunately, their use of external sites to find lat lon is clunky.

Photo by C. B.

(Speaking of monarchs, the pioneer and paradigm for single species sites is Monarch Watch.)

There's a nice use of Google maps on Beespotter. When you enter a sighting (and upload a photo), part of the data entry process brings up a Google maps applet. Normally you would enter a street address. If you know your lat lon you can enter that to Google. (Since many people will make repeat observations at a few sites, it would be a logical to be able to keep a list of favorite locations.)

The Great Sunflower Project is actually a bee observation project. The assumption is you will grow sunflowers in a single site, so you register a single location by street address (lat lon is optional.) Then you may record multiple observations at that site.

Finally, a plant-focused phenology site. Project Budburst assumes you will register a small number of locations, and later report consolidated observations for each site. They require you to get lat lon from an external site.

Doug Tallamy in Michigan on March 8, 2009

2009-03-10T08:56:00.001-04:00

Ecologist Doug Tallamy gave the keynote at the 22nd Michigan Wildflower Conference on March 8, 2009. It was exciting to hear him. His book is one of the most import books of the decade.

Here's an excerpt of a review by Nancy Cutbirth Small (with her permission):

Douglas Tallamy’s Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens (Timber Press) ... focuses on using native plants to sustain the herbivorous insects that transfer the sun’s energy from plants to birds and other creatures. …

Chapter 12 “What Should I Plant?” is especially helpful, for it ranks and discusses the 20 genera of woody plants most valuable to Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths). Lepidopterans and their caterpillars form an important part of young birds’ diets. The number of species supported by each genus is amazing: Oaks, which head the list, support 517 species of moths and butterflies as well as walkingsticks and katydids, “hundreds of species of gall wasps,” bess beetles, and large stag beetle species. Hickories, though halfway down the list, nevertheless support 200 Lepidoptera species alone.

Tallamy illustrates his book with his own beautiful and dramatic photographs of insects--feeding, mating, protecting themselves, guarding their eggs or nymphs, being parasitized. The last major section of the book is devoted to a “portrait gallery” of herbivorous insects (and some of their arthropod predators), with short discussions of each. Strange, imposing, elegant, beautiful—and sometimes all of these—the insects shown here and elsewhere in the book help make the author’s passionate argument for saving these creatures on which so much depends. …

Readers are certain to find Tallamy’s book revealing and inspiring.

Groups Grapple Invasives

2008-10-19T20:37:00.002-04:00

Doyle Park and all who enjoy it received two great gifts on Saturday, October 18.

In the morning, a group of from Johnson Controls cut invasives north of the Birch Hollow (west) entrance. This increases visibility and safety in this part of the Park. A childrens play structure will be built here next Spring.

In the afternoon, an energetic group of Gates Millenium Scholars from the University of M ichigan pitched in to help. They cut buckthorn between the Packard entrance and the pedestrian bridge. Thanks!

Bees in My Backyard

2008-08-17T05:19:00.005-04:00

As a fan of native plants, it's been interesting to start identifying native bees. As different plants bloom through the summer, the bee visitors change as well.

Early in July, this metallic green bee (?Agapostemon) frequently visited the spiderwort (Tradescantia)

In mid and late July, Bombus bimaculata visited the bee balm (Monarda). This long-tongued humble bee can get the nectar at the bottom of the tiny tubular flowers.

(July 17, 2008)
In August, the prairie dock stated their annual show. Short-tonged B. impatiens were common.

(August 9, 2008)
Some species others were repeat visitors. Carpenter bees (Xylocopa) were eager visitors to swamp milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) and a gray-striped bee (?Megachile) visited several plant, including butterfly milkweed (A. tuberosa.)

Please join us for these upcoming events

2008-08-02T13:46:00.000-04:00

Stewardship events are a great way to get outdoors, meet new friends, and help the environment. Here are some opportunities.

Saturday, October 18 - collect seeds at Swift Run Park, 9:00 to noon; plant seeds at Mary Beth Doyle Park, 1:00 to 4:00 PM. (NAP)

Crab spiders animate wildflowers

2008-07-04T09:25:00.004-04:00

Among the tiny creatures that really run the world's ecosystems, crab spiders play an interesting role.

The dwell within wildflowers such as milkweed and goldenrod, and prey on insects that come to visit. Often they assume the coloration of the flower - magenta, yellow, or whatever.

In turn, they are preyed upon by pompilid wasps. (see photo.)

Here are a couple of sites:

A great invert blog from Michigan's Upper Peninsula has a nice page on crab spiders.

Windsor Ontario's Ojibway Nature Centre includes crab spiders on its spider page.

So far, I haven't spotted any in my wildflower photos. But I'll keep looking.

June 1 Dedication of Wetland Preserve

2008-06-02T00:17:00.001-04:00

The Washtenaw County Drain Commissioner's new storm water detention project at the Mary Beth Doyle Park and Wetland Preserve was dedicated on June 1 This project uses native trees, shrubs, and herbacious plants as part of a project to slow the flow of Mallett's Creek and keep the waters cool for wildlife. (Click here for details.)

Quoting Mike Garfield:
"The park was renamed after Mary Beth Doyle, the Ecology Center's former Environmental Health Campaign Director, in memory of her remarkable work at the local, state, and national levels for environmental health, and of her energetic efforts to save green space and parks in Ann Arbor. Mary Beth ran the field campaign for the 1999 Ann Arbor parks millage campaign, and was a leader in the 2000 Washtenaw County natural areas campaign and 2003 Ann Arbor Greenbelt campaign.

"In the way that this park blends fun with environmental protection, it provides a fitting tribute to Mary Beth Doyle. She found humor in the toughest situations, and was a dogged defender of public health and the environment."

parasites carried by "commercial" bumble bees

2008-05-12T22:08:00.002-04:00

A report from the National Academies on the Status of Pollinators
in North America says:

"One possible cause of decline in native bumble bees appears to be introduced parasites carried by bumble bees imported from Europe for greenhouse pollination. These bees frequently harbor disease organisms and their escape from greenhouses can lead to pathogen spillover into native species."

Read a summary here.

This is especially relevant in SE Michigan, because one of the world's largest commercial bee producers has a large operation in Romulus.

Koppert Biological, Inc. is a subsidiary of Koppert Biological Systems BV.

Rain Garden planted on May 10

2008-05-10T18:42:00.002-04:00

Volunteers and NAP staff built a rain garden at the Mary Beth Doyle Park and Wetland Preserve on May 10, 2008.

The new new rain garden is near the Packard entrance. It will capture storm water that runs off the small parking lot, and channel it to a basin that contains native plants with deep roots.

The new plants will increase diversity and attract birds and butterflies.

This sunny area is a pleasant contrast to the woods south of Mallets Creek where shade-loving flowers are thriving.

Mary Beth Doyle Nature Preserve

2008-04-22T21:07:00.000-04:00

The Mary Beth Doyle Nature Preserve is in southeast Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

For Mapquest or similar program enter the street address: 2870 Packard Road, 48104.

In Topozone.com, enter lat/long as 42.2431 north 83.7073 west.

In Google Earth, enter as "42.2431 -83.7073" (Be sure to include the negative sign, or you'll end up viewing far north-west China.)

Here's an aerial photo from at least 4 years ago. This was before the condos were built on Cardinal Ave., along the northwest boundary.

insects and milkweeds

2008-04-21T22:27:00.000-04:00

Prof. Mark Hunter gave a fascinating presentation on "The Natural and Un-Natural History of Milkweeds: Insects, Toxins and Other Stories" at the combined meeting of the Michigan Botanical Club - Huron Valley Chapter and Wild Ones - Ann Arbor Chapter on Monday, April 21, at Matthei Botanical Gardens, 7:45 PM.

Many insects use milkweed blossoms. Native bees and wasps, butterflies and moths all feast on the nutritious nectar.

You may be aware that Monarch butterflies depend on milkweed as a larval host. That is, the adults lay eggs on milkweed leaves, and when the eggs hatch, caterpillars eat the leaves.

There's a nice overview on the Monarch Watch site.

Monarchs have evolved a way to deal with the specialized chemicals that milkweeds produce, and may use it to reduce the effects of a parasite (Ophryocystis elektroscirrha).

Many other species have evolved tolerance, including a specialized food chain of aphids, crab spiders, and pampilid wasps. Here's a milkweed beetle.

Ecological burn Tuesday afternoon April 8 2008

2008-04-08T10:48:00.003-04:00

Natural Area Preservation conducted a prescribed ecological burn on Tuesday April 8 at Doyle Park in southeast Ann Arbor.

The overcast skies and slightly damp conditions caused more smoke than usual. The burn extended through about 70% of the woods.

Prescribed burns play an important role in setting back non-native species.

Sorry, we have no photos this year.

Scouts are great helpers

2008-04-03T19:11:00.001-04:00

Scouts have played a significant role in the ongoing efforts to improve the Mary Beth Doyle Nature Preserve.

Girl Scouts from the Huron Valley Council have helped to build trails.

Two eagle scout projects are noteworthy:
Austin Quinn Riker and Troop 7 built a footbridge between about halfway between the Verle entrance and the pedestrian bridge that crosses I-94. The bridge is on the north side of the paved sidewalk, and crosses a fairly-deep drainage ditch. They finished this in 2004.

Allen Eyler built a wooden walkway just south of the pedestrian bridge that crosses Malletts Creek in late spring 2005. This crosses an intermittent stream just inside the woods - the trail continues southward at this point.

The Man Who Planted Trees

2008-03-26T20:48:00.002-04:00

(Image by Frederic Back from http://www.fredericback.ca)

The Man Who Planted Trees by Jean Giono, is a moving parable of how one person can help to restore the damaged Earth. It tells the story of Elzeard Bouffier, laboring in solitude and silence for thirty years, who replants a desolate region.

"It was his opinion that this land was dying for want of trees. He added that, having no very pressing business of his own, he had resolved to remedy this state of affairs."

By the simple act of planting trees, the countryside is transformed. "Instead of the dry wind that used to attack, a gentle breeze was blowing, laden with scents ... The old streams, fed by the rains and snows the forest conserves, are flowing again."

An animated film by Frederic Back, with original music by Normand Roger, is available in both English and French. The English translation is slightly different than that published by Chelsea Green. A book featuring illustrations from the film is available from the same source. In the US, contact Direct Cinema Limited (800-525-0000 or 310-396-4774).

A CD and audio cassette include the story narrated by Robert J. Lurtsema, with music by the Paul Winter Consort. Contact Living Music (860-567 8796)

The most widely-known English translation is published by Chelsea Green Publishing Company (800-639-4099) with woodcut illustrations by Michael McCurdy.

Giorno, of course, wrote the original in French: L'Homme Qui Plantait Des Arbres is published by Gallimard-Jeunesse with illustrations by Willi Glasauer.

Prescribed Fire to Control Invasives

2008-03-16T17:24:00.013-04:00

The Doyle nature preserve is a candidate for a prescribed ecological burn in late March or early April (depending on weather.)

Such burns can be very effective in controlling invasive species.

A hot burn can be fatal to small stems of common buckthorn.

Trained staff and volunteers from Ann Arbor's Natural Area Preservation have conducted burns at the Doyle Presrve since 1996. The first woods burn was on March 7, 2000; another was held on April 4, 2001.

(These photos are from April 15, 2005)

Pollinators - Native Bees

2008-03-07T20:04:00.012-05:00

Julianna Tuell's presentation on native bees was a highlight at the Wildflower Association of Michigan's 2008 conference.

Her MSU Extension Bulletin "Conserving Native Bees" is available as a pdf download.

Also, Gretchen LeBuhn has created an on-line guide to native bees.

Songs for not-quite-Spring

2008-03-06T20:28:00.005-05:00

In eastern North America, Spring is eagerly awaited, but it sometimes seems a long time coming. One way to cope is with music.

Singers Priscilla Herdman, Anne Hills and Cindy Mangsen have two nice songs on their "Voices of Winter" CD (http://www.fourtold.com/product.html )

"Witch hazel"

"Chickadee"

If you've been removing invasise shrubs (especailly common buckthorn) you might enjoy this ditty from Judy Schmidt c. 2003 (Tune: The Victors")

Hail to the buchthorn cutters
Hail to the heartwood hunters
Rhamnus cathartica, we bid you adieu

You drop your berries on us
You stick your thorns into us
Rhamnus cathartica, we will get rid of you

Volunteer Stewardship Day February 23, 2008

2008-03-03T20:26:00.004-05:00

Neighbors and volunteers turned out on February 23, 2008, to remove invasive shrubs such as common buckthorn.

See its summer appearance here.

Billy Kirst from NAP led plant ID and removal.

Removing invasive shrubs March 31, 2007

2008-02-26T18:02:00.004-05:00

Volunteers from near and far help to remove undesirable plants.

Careful work is necessary to avoid damage to nearby plants and soil.

Stems are initially cut at a height of 12 to 18 inches.

Later, a NAP crew will re-cut and apply herbicide to the stumps.

(March 31, 2007)

Volunteer Stewardship Day March 28 2004

2008-02-26T15:55:00.004-05:00

Volunteers have cared to the woods for many years.

A major focus is the removal of invasive shrubs, that crowd out native wildflowers.

Our work parties often conclude with a nature walk. Here NAP staffer Steve Wilson points to an intermittant stream that runs north-westerly through the woods.

(March 28, 2004)

Protecting woody seedlings

2008-02-24T20:10:00.004-05:00

For best success, plant native trees and shrubs when they are small - often less than 1 cm in diameter.

At this size, however, they are vulnerable to broken by clumsy humans.

Dan Ayers has invented a cage made of fence material to provide a visual impact and physically protect small plants.

Here's one with a paw paw seedling.

Consider these in the snow - they make it easy to see that SOMETHING is gong on that is worthy of protection. Hopefully this inspires some care.

To protect seedlings from deer or cattle, a full-size VACA cage is needed. See examples at Mattheii Botanical Garden parking lot or click here for details.

Doyle Nature Area Restoration History

2008-02-23T19:30:00.003-05:00

Over the past 10 years, neighbors, volunteers, scout groups, and NAP staff have made enormous progress restoring the woods at Doyle Nature Area to their natural beauty and diversity.

A neighbor, Kathy (McKee) Squires, was one of the first to recognize the biodiversity in these woods. When the Natural Area Preservation Division was established in 1995, Dave Borneman sponsored a botanical inventory.

Over the years, NAP staff have developed a management plan, established a series of prescribed ecological burns, and focused many hours of staff and volunteer effort here.

Perhaps the most significant year was 2000, when teenagers from the New School cleared a 100-yard swath along the north edge of the woods. The effect was dramatic. Neighbors and visitors could see a forest where there had been an inpenetrable tangle. people felt safer, visits to the woodland area increased, and wildflowers appeared in profusion.

The first prescribed burn was conducted south of the woods in March 1996.

Yours truly "discovered" this park at a NAP volunteer stewardship day on May 17, 1997. David Mindell led volunteers who moved trillium, mayapple and false Solomon's seal from a new trail in the southwest corner of the woods.

Other volunteer stewardship days were held on May 21, 2000, March 23, 2002, and other dates. Some have cleared shrubs south of the woods, and in the area near the Verle entrance.

The work started in the