It's always a good idea to 'bee' friendly
This is the end of “bee friendly” week as we celebrate National Pollinator Week from June 18-24. Why the interest in pollinators? The simple answer is that most of us enjoy eating, and bees are responsible for every third bite of food we eat.
Many plants will not produce fruit and/or seed without help to transfer male pollen to the female plant part. Although wind, bats and birds contribute to pollination, the most important group of pollinators is insects. These include flies, butterflies, moths, beetles, bees and wasps. Of these, bees are at the top of the list because they regularly visit one particular flower species on a foraging trip, which is important in fruit and seed production.
Hives of European honey bees are transported around the country, moving them from crop to crop when plants are flowering to ensure production of crops such as almonds, apples, blueberries, peaches, watermelon, cranberries, cherries, avocados, blackberries and cucumbers. But we also have native bees that contribute to our food production. Some are generalists while others, like the blueberry and squash bees, specialize in specific crops.
If you have flowering plants in your landscape, it is very likely that you have some of these native bees. Some of the more common native bees include sweat bees, leafcutting bees and bumble bees.
You might encounter sweat bees while working in the landscape, especially during summer months. They are attracted to perspiration because they need moisture and salts. Sweat bees are small, ¼- to ¾-inch long, and can be dull or metallic in color. They are very important pollinators of flowering fruit and seed plants. If one lands on you while you are gardening, simply brush it away, do not squash it. If squashed, the females are capable of a slight sting. Most sweat bees nest in the bare soil in sunny spots, while a few nest in rotting wood. For more information on sweat bees, go to http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN89700.pdf.
The leafcutting bee is another that you have likely encountered. Have you seen holes in plant leaves that look like they were extracted with a hole punch? If so, you have these native bees in your landscape. This black bee is about the size of a honey bee and cuts circular holes from plant leaves to create nests for its young. Like sweat bees, they are not aggressive and will only sting if handled. They are important pollinators of both wildflowers and food crops. For more information, go to http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN61900.pdf.
Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) are also common in area landscapes. They are early risers and are large, fuzzy and noisy. Bumble bees nest in tufts of grass, or shallow underground or wooden cavities. They are similar to honey bees in that they collect pollen on the hind tibiae. Unlike honey bees, they pollinate plants when weather conditions are not as ideal. Bumble bees can sting severely and multiple times. Go to http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN20700.pdf for more information.
If you are interested in bringing more native bees to your landscape, there are several things you can do. The easiest thing is the include plants that they like. There are some plants that are referred to as “bee magnets.” One that I am growing right now that has a flurry of bee activity is lemon bee balm, Monarda citriodora. I initially grew it from seed last year and it reseeded itself this spring. This plant produces beautiful lavender flowers along the flower stalks that attract an assortment of bees and other pollinators.
Another great plant is African blue basil, Ocimum basilicum "Kasar." spp. The basil thrives in full sun and tops out at about three feet tall. It is covered with flowers all summer long, which brings in the pollinators.
Of all the plants in our Urban Gardening demonstration gardens, the one that reliably attracts the most pollinators is the snow squarestem, Melanthera nivea. This native perennial plant is in the aster family and prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. Place it in an area with full sun or partial shade and use it as a background plant because it does get tall, easily four to six feet. Frequent pruning will help create a more attractive and compact plant. During the growing season, it is covered with showy white flowers that bring in the butterflies, skippers, bees and wasps.
Many flowering perennials and annuals will also attract pollinators: coreopsis, coneflowers, sunflowers, marigolds, zinnias, salvias, black eyed susan, rosemary, ironweed, hyssop (Agastache), goldenrod, pentas and blanket flower (Gallardia), to name a few.
In addition to plants, provide shelter and nesting sites depending on the bees you are trying to attract. Ground nesting bees like undisturbed ground with loose sandy soil in sunny areas and no mulch.
Last but not least, avoid the use of broad spectrum pesticides to prevent killing the bees. Insecticides that are devastating to our bee population have an EPA bee advisory box with details on how to reduce the risk of killing bees. Simply hosing off plants with a stream of water will reduce many of our pest problems. If pesticides are needed, stick to insecticidal soaps and oils, or for caterpillars use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) sold as Dipel or Thuricide.
To celebrate Pollinator Week, “bee” friendly and incorporate some of these flowering plants and gardening practices to attract pollinators to your landscape.
Terry Brite DelValle is a horticulture extension agent with the Duval County Extension Service and the University of Florida/IFAS.