University of St. Thomas Biology Department Pollinator Path

A friendly reminder about what we can all do...

Unsure how to help insect declines? Scientists suggest some ways Humans can't live without insects

https://xerces.org/blog/us-fish-wildlife-service-fails-to-designate-critical-habitat-for-rusty-patched-bumble-bee

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Fails to Designate Critical Habitat for the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee | Xerces Society The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service decided to not designate critical habitat for the rusty patched bumble bee, despite its previous finding that habitat loss threatens the bee. Failing to designate critical habitat may hinder recovery of the rusty patched bumble bee, which has already been lost from m...

The ironweed (located in the bed near the Anderson Parking Ramp) is blooming well this year and is a big hit with the bees! Here is a photo of a chap-leg bee on the small flowers.

Designing an end to a toxic American obsession: The Lawn Americans do love their lawns. But when it comes to nature, they are biodiversity deserts. Find out how people are designing an end to the toxic yard and bringing new models to life.

Second Rusty-Patched sighting - today on Culver's Root at Science Buildings "Long Bed"! Third - no photo, but sighted at Stewardship Garden beds on Monarda.

Rusty-Patched Bumblebee sighting!

First sighting this summer of the endangered Rusty-Patched Bumblebee! I saw it feeding on the Ageratum houstonianum 'Blue Horizon' in the new annual bed by the Stewardship Garden. I've reported it to Bumblebee Watch and await confirmation. Head on down to see the new beds - the Monarda is in peak bee-watching condition and the Mexican Sunflower, sunflowers, Zinnia, and this lovely Ageratum are all covered in hungry pollinators!

I helped design this graphic with Elaine Evans and Colleen Satyshur (UMN Bee Lab) and Sarah Foltz-Jordan (Xerces Society) recently. I hope it helps clear up confusion about how to provide stem-nesting habitat for bees in your garden. Approximately 30% of native bees nest above ground in cavities in stems and wood. Follow the instructions on this graphic to provide more opportunities for stem-nesting bees such as small carpenter bees (Ceratina) and small mason bees (Hoplitis).

https://www.pollinatorsnativeplants.com/uploads/1/3/9/1/13913231/stemnestingbeesweb.pdf

https://beeinformed.org/2020/04/10/blue-pollen/?fbclid=IwAR1mYK_JHbd8MGMLWnPrnI4piKRHRbyWs3ZJbKBZRKvz26I3lMa2eS3kuP8

Latest Spring Fashion – Blue Pollen – Bee Informed Partnership