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
Th X
The
Xerces S
Society
i t
An international non-profit
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
pp to the USDA-NRCS
• Technical support
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
off pesticides
ti id
Photo: Bruce Newhouse
Part 1
1. The Importance of Pollinators
© Bruce Newhouse
Importance of Pollinators: Pollination
Pollination
o at o is
s tthe
e ttransfer
a se o
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,
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
f wildlife
for
f
© 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
reg larl forage in area aro
around
nd nest
Photo: Edward S. Ross
Honey Bees: Essential Non-Native Livestock
• M
Mostt crop pollination
lli ti iis d
done b
by th
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
e e honey
o ey bees a
available
a ab e
V
Varroa
mite
it
• 50% decline in managed hives
since 1950
• Doubling of cropland requiring
bee pollination
• 70-100%
70 100% decline in feral
colonies
• 15% to 22% annual losses
since the mid
mid-19902
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:
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
Co
o y Collapse
Co apse Disorder
so de
• 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
Co
o y Collapse
Co apse Disorder:
so de
• 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
crops, 1995–2005
1995–2005.
The Rising Cost of Commercial Pollination
2007
Honey bee colony rental rates for selected California crops
crops, 1995–2005
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
b
bees
(h
(honey and
d native)
ti )
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
p
visiting
g apples
pp
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
•M
Make
k contact
t t with
ith anther
th and
d
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:
a pe C
Cherry
e y to
tomatoes
atoes
When native bees were present,
the production of Sungold cherry
tomatoes almost tripled.
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
N ti bees
Native
b
and
d alfalfa
lf lf
• 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.
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
p
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
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
adult.
Photos: Dennis Briggs
Ground-Nesting Solitary Bees
• Roughly 70% of native
b species
bee
i nestt
underground
• Resemble ant-nests
from above ground
• Nest chambers are lined
with waxy glandular
secretions, and can
sometimes even resist
flooding
g
• Very common bees
• Conserve sandy soil,
bare ground
Photos: Eric Mader, Matthew Shepherd, Dennis Briggs
Ground-Nesting Solitary Bees
Numerous groundnesting crop
pollinators
• Andrena
A d
mining
i i
bees (apple, cherry,
blueberry)
• Squash bees
(cucurbits)
• Svastra (hybrid
sunflower)
Photo: Connie Stubbs
Ground-Nesting Solitary Bees
Ground-nesting
G
ou d est g ((~70%)
0%)
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
Gro nd Nests
Ground
Photo: Bob Hammond, CO Coop Ext
Wood-Nesting Bees
Roughly
g y 30% of native species
p
nest in hollow plant stems, or
old beetle borer holes
• Nest tunnel p
partitions constructed
of mud, leaf pieces, or sawdust
• Artificially managed for some
crops
p
© Edward Ross
• Conserve snags, brush piles
Photo: Matthew Shepherd
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
N t cells
Nest
ll separated
t d with
ith mud
d or leaf
l f partitions
titi
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,
clover
tomato
• More efficient than honey
bees for blueberry
blueberry,
cranberry, melons, etc.
• Active in cool and wet
weather
th
Photos:, Eric Mader(Xerces Society), Steve Javorek (AgCanada)
Bumble Bees
Bumble
u b e bees nest
est in e
existing
st g ca
cavities
t es suc
such as o
old
d rodent
ode t
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,
i
resin,
i soil,
il etc.
t
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
ees act
active
ea
around
ou d c
crops
ops be
before
o ea
and
da
after
te c
crop
op b
bloom.
oo
• Example: flight periods of native bees in relation to blueberry bloom.
TAXA
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUG
SEP
OCT
Colletes ((inaequalis,
q
validis))
Andrena
Augochlora pura
Augochlorella
g
striata
Halictus (females)
Lasioglossum
(females)
Osmia
Bombus
© Data from Steve Javorek
Javorek, Agriculture Canada
Managing Insecticides: Drift Control
Standard Drift Control
Recommendations:
• Calibrate equipment annually
• Select p
proper
p nozzle type
yp
• 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
teg ated Pest
est Management
a age e t
• 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
biq ito s in hortic
horticultural
lt ral
industries
Photo: Matthew Shepherd
Herbicides
When applied
pp
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
A
Appropriate
i t Technology
T h l
• Alternative pollinator online
publication
• New edition March 2010
http://attra.ncat.org/attrahttp://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
P ti id G
Guidelines
id li
www.xerces.org/pollinatorresource center
resource-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 p
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,
ti i t and
d ffarmers
Financial support from
 Xerces Society
y 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