Bees & Sustainability

Presentation on theme: "Bees & Sustainability"— Presentation transcript:

Bees & Sustainability

Speaker’s Name here

Bees | Common Assumptions

All bees are aggressive

All bees give honey!

All bees cause anaphylactic shock!

Honey Bees are great pollinators!

Assumption | All Bees Sting

20,000+ bee species in the world

90% are solitary bees, 10% are socialOnly 7 species are honey beesSocial bees need to defend queen, food, & eggsSolitary bees can’t defend and do all workSolitary can sting, but only if life-threatened

Solitary

Social

Assumption| All Bees Have Honey

Out of all US and Canada, NO native bees make honeyWhy do honey bees make honey? It’s food to overwinter the queen and hundreds of workersNative species gather & store pollen mixed with nectar for young

Assumption | Honey Bees Are Great Pollinators

Honey bee historyEgyptians gathered honey from themPilgrims introduced the “white man’s fly” in 1600’sManaged hives stayed on farms throughout the US through 1940’s

Honey Bees Shift to “Pollinator”

Industrialized farming began in 1940’sAs farms combined, monoculture was introducedSoil became unhealthy & chemicals pushed out native beesLarge acreage now needed artificial pollinationThe only managed bee was the honey-making bee which became the de facto pollinator 4,000 native bees were ignored

Mason Bees, A Super Pollinator

Well studied by worldwide researchers

Mason bees gather pollen differently

Work in colder and windier environmentsNest in holes that can be relocatedProduce more fruit in many tree varieties

From our Customers

This is what our plum tree looks like after two pickings. Pretty good harvest for this fall…

Our Asian pear trees have been thinned twice and still have too many pears. ~ Gary and Billie Bevers

From our Orchardists

After placing mason bees on his cherry farm in Omak, WA, Mr.

Freese gained an additional yield of more than 6 tons of cherries per acre. He netted over $100,000 from these bees.

From our Farmers

"We have never seen anything like it before! We are only estimating, but feel that leafcutter bees at least tripled our pollination rate for 2016".Leigh Funderburk of Stoneycreek Farms, TN

What’s a Mason Bee?

Solitary bee that nests in existing holesEmerge in spring from cocoonsMate, find their own nesting holeBegin gathering pollen & nectar, lay eggsFly as adults for about 6 weeksEggs are next year’s beesOverwinter as adult bees in cocoons

What’s a Leafcutter Bee?

Solitary bee that nests in existing holesEmerge in summer from leafy cocoonsMate, find their own nesting holeGather pollen & nectar, lay eggsFly as adults for about 6 weeksEggs are next year’s beesOverwinter as pupa

Solitary Bee Houses

Shelter for nesting materialWind, rain & hot sunPlace on a SE facing wall 5-7’ high for easy viewingMount on non-moving surface

Nesting Material

Each female fills about two nesting holes in her lifetime. Small bees like small nesting holes (4mm-6mm)Large bees like large nesting holes (6mm-8mm)Consider providing a variety of sizes for all bees

Reeds

EasyTear Tubes Inserts & Tubes Wood trays

Stay Away!

Wood blocks

Plastic straws

Bamboo

Mason Bee Harvesting

Harvesting removes pestsEasy to do (sign up for BeeMail!)Pests build up over timeKnow your bee needs for next season

Pest: Pollen Mites

Pest: Chalkbrood

Mason Bee Winter Storage

Keep some cocoons, share someBeeBuyBack programExchange excess cocoons for products or $$Storing cocoonsOverwinter in the refrigeratorBees are healthier in stable, cold tempsFrost-free refrigerators dehydrate beesUse a Humidibee for hydration

Mason Bee Springtime Release

You’re in charge of when to release them. Wait for open blossoms!Place cocoons behind or on top of nesting materialA small cup or box protects cocoons from windExtend pollination – release cocoons in waves1/3 when first blossoms open1/3 two weeks later1/3 after two more weeksRelease all mason bees by May 1st

Keys to Success

Correct nesting holes matterCorrect mud & leaves matterAvoid toxins that kill or smellCrownbees.com is full of informationMonthly BeeMail sends great tips

69%

Why Crown Bees Cares

Recent study from Minneapolis Entomology conventionRight bee on right crop can produce 2.4x more yieldNeed more “pollinating” bees to add more foodBeeBuyBack programBuy back mason cocoons in fallSell online, nurseries, orchardsTeaching sustainable practicesLess lawnLive soilGrow foodLess toxic chemicalsMore natives/naturalized plantsRaise bees

Why Crown Bees Cares

Your Role

You are the front line of sustainabilityEducate your friends & neighbors about balanced yardsNo pests, no predators. Yards are NOT to be as clean as a kitchen counterExpansive lawns require high water, chemicals, time (clover is OK!)Plant heirloom/native flowers in clumps for bees

How Crown Bees Supports You

We teach with our monthly BeeMail Sign up at www.crownbees.com/beemail New website with in-depth information www.crownbees.com How-to videos for youYou’re the customer, we care about your success

Recap

Honey bees are awesome honey-making beesSolitary bees are better pollinators and are gentleBe wary of bamboo/drilled blocks of woodSign up for BeeMail (www.crownbees.com/beemail) Understand the Crown Bees mission with our food supplySpread the word about sustainability