Protecting Pollinators

It’s a season of bounty from the earth – blueberries, tomatoes, asters, sunflowers … and a good time to celebrate the insects that make this bounty possible: the pollinators. Did you know that there are hundreds of bee species that pollinate the flowering plants of our region? The well-known honeybees and bumblebees live in colonies, but many of our native bees are solitary bees. The mason bees and leafcutter bees nest singly in small tunnels or holes. The female bees gather a mass of pollen and nectar that they place in the base of the tunnel and lay an egg on it. They then wall off that section of tunnel with clay or leaves, and then gather provisions for the next chamber. They can fill the entire tunnel with chambers, one for each baby bee. When the eggs hatch, the larvae feed upon the pollen and nectar. The larvae will pupate and spend the winter in their cocoons inside of these chambers. In the spring, they metamorphose into adult bees and emerge. Your family can help to provide habitat for these important pollinators by making a simple nesting shelter. Such a habitat will include tubes or tunnels from 3.5 to 8 inches in length and under 7/16 inches in diameter. This project provides an opportunity to introduce your children to the benefits of bees. Yes, they can sting, but if children are careful and respectful, they have nothing to fear. Spend some time admiring flowers and the pollinators that visit them. You should see bees, butterflies, moths, beetles and hummingbirds, all helping flowers make seeds and fruit. Many populations of pollinators are experiencing precipitous declines. We encourage your family to plant pollinator gardens to help support pollinators. Native plant species are best. It is important that the flowers you plant be organically grown. One of the likely causes of the decline is the widespread use of neonicotinoid pesticides. This class of chemicals is used to treat nearly every plant grown commercially these days. These pesticides are absorbed into all plant tissues, including nectar and pollen, and the plants remain toxic for months. Visit beec.org for a list of nurseries that sell untreated plants in our region. The only one we have found in southern Vermont is Morning Star Perennials and Nursery in Rockingham. Plant exchanges with your neighbors are another good way to procure untreated plants.

Here is a simple design for a house that will provide habitat for mason bees and leafcutter bees. These bees are gentle, sting only under extreme duress and are very good pollinators. You will need: • Hollow stemmed plants (we recommend Japanese knotweed, an invasive weed that can be found along the banks of many local rivers and streams). • A flowerpot (any waterproof container might be used) • Rope or twine • Duct tape Find and gather hollow stemmed plants. If you’re using knotweed or bamboo, chop into sections just above or below the joints in the stem so that one end of the stem section is open and one end is sealed. Stem sections should be short enough that they fit entirely inside the flowerpot. Trim them so they fit inside it. Bundle them, open ends facing the front, and wrap with duct tape. Next, run twine through the hole in the back of the flowerpot, and, leaving plenty of slack on either end for hanging the pot, tape the twine to the top of the bundle of stems. Tie a loop in the twine such that when the flowerpot is suspended, the tubes are held against the back of the pot and the openings point downward slightly so they stay dry. Cover the hole in the back with a piece of the tape. Decorate the habitat with whatever materials you have at hand. Hang the pot near some flowers in a warm, sunny location.

Second Nature is submitted by the naturalists at Bonnybale Environmental Education Center in West Brattleboro. Come take a walk on the trails, open to the public sunrise to sunset. For more information and current events, visit. www.beec.org or call 802-257-5785

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