Pesticides and Native Pollinators: How to recognize and protect native bees

Presented by Mace Vaughan Pollinator Program Director, The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation Joint Pollinator Conservation Specialist, NRCS West Nat’l Tech Support Center Photo: Edward S. Ross

What is the Xerces Society

The Xerces Society

An international non-profit that works to protect wildlife and biodiversity through the conservation of invertebrates. Photo: © Edward Ross

Xerces Conservation Methodology

The Xerces Society: A Nationwide Pollinator Outreach and Education Organization Collaborating with scientists, government agencies, cooperative extension, conservation groups and farmers •
Training and outreach •
Technical publications •
Applied research •
Direct technical support to growers •
Develop new conservation tools •
Information for policymakers and media •
Document at-risk pollinators •
Technical support to the USDA-NRCS

Photo: Eric Mader

Talk Outline

Talk Outline •
Importance of native pollinators •
Biology of native pollinators (esp. bees) •
Recognizing native bees and their habitat •
Reducing impacts of pesticides Photo: Bruce Newhouse

Part 1. The Importance of Pollinators

© Bruce Newhouse

Importance of Pollinators: Pollination Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anther to stigma of the same or another flower. •
Self-pollination: transfer within a flower or flowers of the same plant •
Cross-pollination: transfer between plants

Photo: Steve Javorek, Agriculture Canada

Insect Pollinators: An Ecological Keystone

More than 70 percent of flowering plants (˜ 240,000 sp.) require an insect to move pollen.

Photo: Eric Mader

Importance of Pollinators Pollinators provide an ecosystem service that enables plants to produce fruits and seeds. •
35% of crop production, worldwide •
Value of crops in U.S.: $18 to $27 billion •
One in three mouthfuls of food and drink we consume

Photo: USDA-ARS/Peggy Greb

Importance of Pollinators Photo: Karen Ward, NPS © Marie Read

•
Fruits and seeds are a major part of the diet of about 25% of birds, and many mammals •
Pollinators are food for wildlife © NRCS

© Robert Parks © Marie Read

Main Groups of Pollinators

Photos: James Cane; Jeff Adams; Dana Ross; Bruce Newhouse Photos: Mace Vaughan, Bob Hammond, David Inouye, Bruce Newhouse

Bees: The most important pollinators •
Bees provide for their young •
Bees actively collect and transport pollen •
Bees exhibit flower constancy •
Bees regularly forage in area around nest

Photo: Edward S. Ross

Honey Bees: Essential Non-Native Livestock •
Most crop pollination is done by the European honey bee. •
This leaves us reliant on a single pollinator, one that is experiencing many problems.

Photo: USDA-ARS/Scott Bauer

Crop Pollination: Honey Bees in Decline Fewer honey bees available

Varroa mite

•
50% decline in managed hives since 1950 •
Doubling of cropland requiring bee pollination •
70-100% decline in feral colonies •
15% to 22% annual losses since the mid-19902 Causes: Disease, pests, honey prices, and…

Photo: USDA-ARS/Scott Bauer

Honey Bees: Colony Collapse Disorder Fewer honey bees available •
2006-07: 31% losses •
2007-08: 36% losses •
2008-09: 29% losses •
2009-10: 34% losses Causes: Add Colony Collapse Disorder to the mix.

Photo: USDA-ARS/Scott Bauer

Possible Causes of Colony Collapse Disorder Colony Collapse Disorder •
Disease/pathogen? •
New viruses? •
New strain of Nosema?

•
Pests? •
Poor diet? •
Insecticides? •
Low genetic diversity? •
Stress?

Photo: USDA-ARS/Scott Bauer

Possible Causes of Colony Collapse Disorder Colony Collapse Disorder: •
Disease/pathogen? •
Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus? •
New strain of Nosema?

•
Pests? •
Poor diet? •
Insecticides? •
Low genetic diversity? •
Stress? •
Not cell phones

Photo: Charles Vorisek

The Rising Cost of Commercial Pollination Honey bee colony rental rates for selected California crops, 1995–2005.

The Rising Cost of Commercial Pollination 2007

Honey bee colony rental rates for selected California crops, 1995–2005. Plus almonds, 2006-2008

2006

2008

Crop Pollination: Important to diversify Fewer honey bees available •
Important to diversify pollinators for production agriculture

Photo: Bob Hammond, CO Coop Ext

Crop Pollination: Important to diversify Fewer honey bees available •
Important to strengthen habitat and pesticide protection for all bees (honey and native)

Photo: USDA-NRCS

Native Bee Diversity in Agriculture Photo: USDA-ARS

Contribution of native bees to crop pollination: •
80+ bee species recorded visiting berry crops in New England •
100+ species documented in WI cranberries •
100+ species visiting apples in NY and PA •
50+ species visiting tomato, sunflower, or watermelon in California

Native Bee Diversity in Agriculture

Example: Blue orchard bee •
250 to 750 females/acre compared to 1 to 2.5 hives of honey bees •
Make contact with anther and stigma on almost every visit •
Active at low light levels and low temperatures •
33+ hours foraging in 5 days •
15+ hours by honey bees

Bosch, J. and W. Kemp. 2001. How to Manage the Blue Orchard Bee as an Orchard Pollinator. Sustainable Agriculture Network. Beltsville, MD. 88 pp. .

Photo: Eric Mader

Native Bee Diversity in Agriculture Example: Cherry tomatoes When native bees were present, the production of Sungold cherry tomatoes almost tripled.

Greenleaf, S. S.,and C. Kremen. 2006. Wild bee species increase tomato production and respond differently to surrounding land use in Northern California. Biological Conservation 133:81-87.

Photo © Burpee; Mace Vaughan

Native Bee Diversity in Agriculture Native bees and alfalfa •
Honey bees learn to bypass the pollination mechanism •
Most seed production by leafcutter and alkali bees •
Wild bees trip over 80% of alfalfa flowers visited; leafcutter bees and honey bees trip only 25%

Photo: Eric Mader

Johanne Brunet and Christy M. Stewart, “Impact of Bee Species and Plant Density on Alfalfa Pollination and Potential for Gene Flow,” Psyche, vol. 2010, Article ID 201858, 7 pages, 2010. doi: 10.1155/2010/201858

Step 1: Recognize pollinators and habitat

Part 2. Recognizing Native Bees

Photo: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University; bugwood.org

Recognize Pollinators: Native bee diversity North America: 4,000 species OR/WA: 600-800 species? California: 1500 species

Photo: Mace Vaughan

Bees Are Not Wasps Yellowjackets and other social wasps are the insects that generally sting people.

Photo: James Cane

Recognize Pollinators: Native bee diversity

Photo: Stephen L. Buchmann

Recognize Pollinators: Native bee diversity Honey bee (Apis mellifera)

Cactus bee (Diadasia sp.)

Bumble bee (Bombus edwardsii)

Leafcutter bee (Megachile sp.)

Photos: James Cane; Robert Parks; Edward S. Ross

Recognize Pollinators: Native bee diversity Metallic sweat bee (Agapostemon sp.)

Yellow-faced bee (Hylaeus sp.)

Mason bee (Osmia sp.)

Sweat bee (Halictus sp.)

Photos: Bruce Newhouse; Edward S. Ross; Mace Vaughan; USDA-ARS/Jack Dykinga

Recognize Pollinators: Native bee diversity Metallic sweat (Agapostemon sp.) Sunflower bee bee (Svastra sp.)

Carpenter bee (Xylocopa sp.)

Mason bee (Osmia sp.)

Long-horned bee (Mellisodes sp.)

Photos: Bob Hammond, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension

Part 3. Ecology of Native Bees (recognizing their habitat)

Photo: Rollin Coville

Three Broad Groups of Native Bees Ground-Nesting Bees (solitary) Bumble Bees (social)

Wood-Nesting Bees (solitary) Photos: Steve Javorek, Eric Mader, Elaine Evans

Life Cycle of a Solitary Bee

Mining bee (Andrena sp.): a year in its underground nest as egg, larva, and pupa before emerging to spend a few weeks as an adult.

Photos: Dennis Briggs

Ground-Nesting Solitary Bees •
Roughly 70% of native bee species nest underground •
Resemble ant-nests from above ground •
Nest chambers are lined with waxy glandular secretions, and can sometimes even resist flooding •
Very common bees •
Conserve sandy soil, bare ground

Photos: Eric Mader, Matthew Shepherd, Dennis Briggs

Ground-Nesting Solitary Bees Numerous groundnesting crop pollinators •
Andrena mining bees (apple, cherry, blueberry) •
Squash bees (cucurbits) •
Svastra (hybrid sunflower)

Photo: Connie Stubbs

Ground-Nesting Solitary Bees Ground-nesting (~70%)

Photo: Eric Mader

Photo: Matthew Shepherd

Source: Stephen, Bohart, and Torchio, 1967

Ground-Nesting Solitary Bees

Ground Nests

© Matthew Shepherd © Dennis Briggs

© Matthew Shepherd © Steve Javorek, Agriculture Canada

Ground-Nesting Solitary Bees

Ground Nests

Photo: Bob Hammond, CO Coop Ext

Wood-Nesting Bees Roughly 30% of native species nest in hollow plant stems, or old beetle borer holes •
Nest tunnel partitions constructed of mud, leaf pieces, or sawdust •
Artificially managed for some crops •
Conserve snags, brush piles

Photo: Matthew Shepherd

© Edward Ross

Photo: Mike Carter

Wood-Nesting Bees

Hollow stem example: Cross-section of silk cocoons

Pollen mass

Egg

Mud wall Larva

Silk cocoons with dormant bees inside

Pupa

Adult

Mud cap closure

Wood-Nesting Bees Nest cells separated with mud or leaf partitions

Wood-Nesting Bees Managed tunnel nesting bees: •
Mason bees (blue orchard bee) •
Alfalfa leafcutter bee (non-native)

Bumble Bees •
45 species in U.S. •
Social colonies founded by a single queen •
Colonies last only one season •
Nest may contain 100-300 workers •
Nests in abandoned rodent burrows or under lodged grasses •
Conserve brush piles, un-mowed areas

Photos:Eric Mader, Elaine Evans

Life Cycle of a Bumble Bee Colony

Bumble Bees: Excellent Crop Pollinators •
Pollinators of red clover, tomato •
More efficient than honey bees for blueberry, cranberry, melons, etc. •
Active in cool and wet weather

Photos:, Eric Mader(Xerces Society), Steve Javorek (AgCanada)

Bumble Bees Bumble bees nest in existing cavities such as old rodent holes, in overgrown areas or under brush piles.

© Mace Vaughan

© NRCS Lynn Betts

Recognize Habitat: Foraging Needs •
Drink nectar from any accessible flower •
May be more particular about where they collect pollen •
Some collect leaf pieces, resin, soil, etc. for nest construction

Photo: Rollin Coville

Recognize Habitat: Foraging Needs

Photos: Matthew Shepherd; Berry Botanic Garden Photos: Elaine Haug NRCS, Matthew Shepherd; Mace Vaughan, Eric Mader, Jeff McMillan NRCS, Berry Botanic Garden

Recognize Habitat: Foraging Needs

Mace Vaughan, Xerces Society

Part 4: Reducing Impacts of Pesticides to Native Bees

Photo: Mace Vaughan, Xerces Society

Risk Assessment: Native Bees vs. Honey Bees Pesticides

Honey Bee Larva = Royal Jelly

Current risk assessment protocols focus on honey bees. •
Honey bees much larger than many native bees •
Native bee larva eat pollen; honey bee larva eat glandular secretions •
Native bees not represented in applicator training programs •
Risk assessment on small solitary bees would provide greater protection for all pollinators

Native Bee Larva = Raw Pollen

Managing Insecticides: The Standard Advice Insecticide use causes significant damage to pollinator insect populations.

Standard advice: •
Minimize and target their use •
Follow labels carefully But… Label guidelines only apply to honey bees! Even when bee caution labels are followed there is limited protection for many native bees!

Managing Insecticides: Additional Advice

Common additional recommendations, that benefit native bees: •
Use active ingredients with least impact on bees •
Consider formulation •
Select safe thinning agents •
Don’t spray on plants in bloom •
Spray at night and when dry

Managing Insecticides: Additional Advice Bees active around crops before and after crop bloom. •
Example: flight periods of native bees in relation to blueberry bloom.

TAXA

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUG

SEP

OCT

Colletes (inaequalis, validis) Andrena Augochlora pura Augochlorella striata Halictus (females) Lasioglossum (females) Osmia Bombus

© Data from Steve Javorek, Agriculture Canada

Managing Insecticides: Drift Control Standard Drift Control Recommendations: •
Calibrate equipment annually •
Select proper nozzle type •
Avoid temperature inversions and windy conditions •
Establish buffer strips •
Thickening agents

Photos: USDA-ARS

Managing Insecticides: Organic Agriculture

There is a perception that organic pesticides are safe for pollinators. •
Pyrethrins = Dangerous for Bees! •
Spinosad = Dangerous for Bees! •
Rotenone = Dangerous for Bees! Safer options when not directly applied to bees (i.e. non-blooming crops or at night): •
Insecticidal soap •
Horticultural oil •
Neem

Photo: NRCS/Toby Alexander

Managing Insecticides: Alternative Options Safer pest management options to encourage for pollinator protection: •
Bt •
Insect repellents (poor efficacy?) •
Kaolin clay barriers (Surround) •
Pheromone traps •
Mating disruptors

Photo: David Biddinger (Penn State University )

Managing Insecticides: Alternative Options Alternatives to pesticides: •
Floating row covers •
Fruit bagging •
Crop rotation and diversity •
Resistant varieties •
Sanitation

Photo: NRCS/Toby Alexander

Managing Insecticides: The Rise and Fall of IPM Integrated Pest Management •
Establish economic thresholds •
Scout crops before spraying •
Use the least toxic control option

An emerging trend: Prophylactic Treatment •
Systemic insecticides •
Treatment before damage occurs •
Neonicotinoids increasingly ubiquitous in horticultural industries Photo: Matthew Shepherd

Herbicides When applied with care, herbicides can be a useful habitat management tool. However, they can also dramatically change plant communities and decrease the usability of habitat for pollinators.

Photo: USDA-NRCS

Herbicides •
Minimize and carefully target applications •
Choose most targeted active ingredient, that have the least environmental impact

Photo: USDA-NRCS

More Information: OSU Extension

http:// extension.oregonstate.edu/ catalog/pdf/pnw/pnw591.pdf

More Information: NCAT/ATTRA

National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (formerly ATTRA) of the National Center for Appropriate Technology •
Alternative pollinator online publication •
New edition March 2010 http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/ nativebee.html

More Information: Xerces Society •
Xerces Society publications •
www.xerces.org

More Information: The Xerces Society

New Pollinator Conservation Resource Center Region-specific Information from Extension, NRCS, NGO, and other sources, including: •
Plant Lists •
Conservation Guides •
Pesticide Guidelines www.xerces.org/pollinatorresource-center

Take Home Message Native bees are a diverse group of insects that provide many benefits to agriculture. They may nest underground, in plants, and in cavities. Pest management can address the needs of these bees so long as care is taken to protect flowers and potential nest sites. IPM remains one of the best tools to minimize impacts on pollinators and other beneficial insects.

www.xerces.org (follow links to pollinator program)

Photo: Mace Vaughan

Thanks Linda Ahlvin and OSU IPPC Many excellent scientists, conservationists, and farmers Financial support from

Xerces Society Members

USDA-NRCS: West National Tech Center, Ag Wildlife Conservation Center

Turner Foundation

CS Fund

Dudley Foundation

Bullitt Foundation

Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund

Richard and Rhoda Goldman Foundation

Panta Rhea Foundation

Organic Farming Research Foundation

Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board

Oregon Zoo

Organic Valley

USFWS

WSARE

Photo: Mace Vaughan