Creating Bee and Other Beneficial Insect Habitat in Georgia
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Creating Bee and Other Beneficial Insect
Habitat in Georgia
Native bees Kevin Brooks, EcoScapes Native Plant Demonstration Garden
have three
basic habitat
needs: a
diverse and
constant
flower-rich
native plant
foraging
area, places
to nest, and
an
environment
free of
pesticides.
Bees come in many different shapes and sizes. Here, a bee from a species in the Halictidae family (i.e. sweat bees) is foraging on
Indian blanket (Gaillardia pulchella).
Pollinators are profoundly important to our well- range of habitats and ecosystems in North America.
being and the health of our environment. In Pollination is a vital stage in the life cycle of all
addition to their beauty, pollinators provide an flowering plants: approximately 90 percent of all
important link in our environment by moving pollen plant species need the help of pollinating animals.
between flowers and ensuring the growth of seeds The plant communities maintained by pollinators
and fruits. The work of pollinators touches our lives are also an important resource for other wildlife
every day through the food we eat: of the estimated that relies on them for food, nesting, and shelter.
1,330 crop plants grown worldwide for food, For example, approximately 25 percent of birds
beverages, fibers, condiments, spices, and include fruit or seeds that serve as a major part of
medicines, approximately 1,000 (75%) are pollinated their diet. The loss of pollinators results in the
by animals! In the United States, approximately one disruption of plant communities in wild ecosystems,
out of every three bites of food you eat and and has serious long-term implications for many
beverages you drink depends on the work of a animal and insect populations.
pollinating animal! There are more than one
UGA Marine hundred crop plants in the United States that need Pollinators comprise a diverse and fascinating group
Extension and pollinators, without which grocery store shelves of wild creatures, from birds and bats to flies,
Georgia Sea Grant
would not be so well stocked. beetles, wasps, ants, butterflies, moths, bees, and
EcoScapes Program
even the odd land mammal or reptile. About 1,000
(formerly Pollination by animals is also essential for of all pollinators are made up of vertebrates such as
CoastScapes) maintaining the structure and function of a wide
www.marex.uga.edu
/ecoscapes/
birds, bats, small mammals and reptiles. However, fragmentation is not as dramatic as destruction, it
most pollinators (about 200,000 species) are is a serious challenge to the survival of many bees.
comprised of beneficial insects such as flies, Native bees need both plants for foraging and
beetles, wasps, ants, butterflies, moths, and bees. suitable nesting sites. Isolated patches of habitat
may have one but not the other, and thus will not
Although pollinators comprise a diversity of wild be able to support viable bee populations.
creatures, there’s no question that native bees are
the most important pollinator in most ecosystems. Thus, conserving the habitats and plants native
Together, with other valuable insect pollinators bees and other beneficial insect species depend on
such as butterflies, moths, flies, and beetles, they is an important strategy for sustaining adequate
fulfill a critical function in our lives. But, too often numbers of plant pollinators. In addition, helping
their presence is taken for granted and we forget native pollinators will also help support and
that, like all living creatures, we need to care for protect the managed European honey bee (Apis
them. Native bees are affectionately referred to by mellifera) that is experiencing severe challenges in
some scientists as “the 800 pound gorillas” of the survival due to diseases, pests, aggressive strains of
pollinator world. Four thousand of the roughly honey bees, fungus, viruses, and Colony Collapse
20,000 worldwide bee species are found in North Disorder. As Dr. Keith S. Delaplane, UGA Extension
America. Unlike the social imported honeybees Entomologist stated, “Native bee conservation
that live in hives with highly-organized social goes hand in hand with conservation of native
structure, the majority of the continent’s native plants that depend on them for pollination.
bees are solitary and almost 70 percent of native Without their pollinators, the colorful bee-
bee species nest in the ground or near the ground pollinated plants that beautify our surroundings,
rather than in exposed hives. The female bees control erosion, and increase our property values
either excavate nest tunnels with a series of brood would decline with unknown effects on the wildlife
chambers or use existing holes or burrows bored that depends on them for food. Thus, bee
by insects, worms or rodents into soil or under tree conservation is not just an issue for beekeepers
bark. The females place a mix of pollen and nectar and crop growers and home gardeners, although
in each brood cell, lay an egg and plaster over the food production is by far the most important area.
cell with mud or little bits of leaves. The adult It is at the very center of plant production and
female bees live only a few weeks and die after the conservation, and all who use and enjoy plant
nest area is complete. The eggs hatch, become products are stakeholders” (Bee Conservation in
larvae, pupate and emerge as adults either the the Southeast, Bulletin 1164, 1998, UGA Honey Bee
same year or the following season depending on Program).
the species.
Habitat Needs of Native Bees
Like all wildlife, native bees are affected by
changes in our landscape. Native bees are in Native bees have three basic habitat needs:
decline and, in some places, suffering local
extinction. And, like all wildlife, native bees and Native bees must have access to a diversity
other pollinators are suffering from destruction of of plants with overlapping blooming times
their habitat. Intensive agriculture and forestry, so that flowers are available to forage from
housing, infrastructure, and industry destroy and early in the spring until late in the fall.
fragment wild areas. Pesticides have devastated And, because native bees come in a range
pollinator populations, and pose a constant threat of sizes, it is important to provide flowers
to the remaining populations. The native habitat of various sizes, shapes, and colors, in
that remains often is in isolated patches and is order to support a diverse community of
degraded by pesticides, invasive plant species, and bees;
changes in land management. Although habitat
They need places to nest. Most native herbicide use can remove many of the
bees are solitary and do not build the wax flowers that bees need for food.
or paper structures we associate with
honey bees or wasps. Most bees nest in Bee-Friendly Habitat Guidelines
small warrens of tunnels and cells they
construct underground. Others nest in Here are some guidelines provided by the
narrow tunnels often left behind by beetle Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
larvae in dead trees, and a few use the soft in providing a bee-friendly landscape:
pith in some plants. Bumble bees – the
most familiar social bee group native to the Identify and protect bee forage already in
U.S. – require small cavities, either in tree place. Existing pollen and nectar native
boles, underground, or under clumps of plant sources can often be found near
fallen grass. Often, they move into old fencerows or hedgerows, riparian buffers,
rodent burrows. Whether underground or and other natural areas where a variety of
in snags, most solitary bees spend most of plants grow. Protect these sites and their
the year maturing in their nest (brood) flowering plants.
cells. In these cells, they are vulnerable to Use locally adopted native plants.
mechanical nest disturbances such as deep Research suggests native plants are four
soil tillage or tree removal. Bumble bees times more attractive to native bees and
are different. Because their nests are butterflies than ornamentals and exotics.
started anew each spring by overwintering Wherever possible, consider how to
queens, bumble bees need both cavities to include native plants, including shrubs and
raise their young as well as undisturbed trees that, together, produce abundant
duff for queens to burrow and hibernate flowers throughout the growing season.
through the winter. Locally adopted native plants with a
diversity of flower shapes, sizes, and
Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
colors will support the greatest
variety of pollinators. Local native
plants are usually well adapted to
your growing conditions, can thrive
with minimum attention, and are
good sources of nectar and pollen for
native bees. Do NOT dig native
plants from the wild and transport
them unless the site in which you find
them is in danger of being destroyed.
Always get approval of the landowner
if you are planning to “rescue” native
plants from development.
Leaving some bare ground in a garden is important for many
Buy native plants based on ecotypes.
native bee species, such as the Andrenidae family (i.e. miner
Whenever possible, buy native seed
bees) in order for them to have space to build their nests.
or native plants from a reputable
Finally, bees need protection from nursery that sells local ecotypes (plants
pesticides. Insecticides are primarily propagated from seed or stock originally
broad-spectrum and therefore deadly to collected in the area you plan to plant
bees. Furthermore, indiscriminate rather than in another biogeographic
region). Often plants sold as native are not
from local sources, and thus may not give emergence and short (4-6 weeks) active
you the full benefits of easy growing and adult life of many solitary-nesting bees
pollinator forage depends on the species and can occur from
Do not use invasive plants. Avoid plant early spring to late summer. Therefore, a
species known to be highly invasive. These sequence of plants that provide a diversity
plants do not provide the quality nectar of flowers throughout the growing season
that the pollinators depend on, will likely is necessary to support a diverse
spread and dominate other species, community of native bee species.
reduce the diversity and value of the Sally and Andy Wasowski, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
natural habitat, and increase
maintenance demands.
Choose plants with a diversity of
color. Native bees are particularly
attracted to blue, purple, violet, white
and yellow blooms. Bees have good
color vision and can see as wide a
range of colors as people. The
difference, however, is that bees see
in a spectrum shifted towards blues
and ultraviolet. Specifically, what we
see as red appears black to a bee.
Plant flowers in clumps. Clusters of
flowers attract more pollinators than Planting native plants in clumps is attractive to pollinators, as it
individual blooms. Clumps four feet reduces the time and energy needed in order to forage for
or more in diameter are particularly nectar and pollen. The group of flowers above is Stokes’ aster
attractive to bees. (Stokesia laevis).
Include flowers of different shapes.
Bees are all different sizes, have different Avoid hybrids. Avoid planting hybrid
tongue lengths, and consequently, will flower varieties or those that have been
feed on different shaped flowers. How bred for showy or “double” blossoms, as
large, how spiky, or how dense the plants these often lack the pollen and nectar
grow may also be a factor in which plants rewards of the parent species. In addition,
to choose. Consequently, providing a horticultural varieties and hybrids are not
range of flower shapes means more bees necessarily suited to local conditions.
can benefit. Include both perennials and annuals.
Have a diversity of plants flowering all Given the huge diversity of native bees, it is
season. Most bee species are generalists, not surprising that there are some that
so a diversity of plants provides a supply of prefer foraging on perennials and others
nectar and pollen through their life cycle. that prefer annuals. Research shows that
Bees can be seen anytime between some families of bees tend to forage more
February and November – maybe longer in on one type than the other. Including both
coastal Georgia – so a sequence of plants annuals and perennials in your choice of
providing a diversity of flowers through the plants will thus support more bees.
growing season will support a range of bee Spare that tree limb! By leaving dead
species that fly at different times of the trees, or at least an occasional dead limb,
year. The social bumble bee is often seen you provide essential nesting sites for
in any of these months, whereas the native bees. Make sure that the limbs are
not a safety hazard for people walkingbelow. You can also build a bee condo by wide range of toxicities to bees. Foraging
drilling holes of varying diameters about bees are poisoned by insecticides when
3to 5 inches deep in a piece of scrap non- they absorb the fast-acting toxins through
treated lumber mounted to a post or under their exoskeleton, drink toxin-tainted
eaves. nectar, or gather polluted pollen or micro-
Eliminate the use of herbicides and encapsulated insecticides. Slow-acting
pesticides to ensure bee survival. toxins may be carried back to the nest
Whenever feasible, choose non-pesticide where they are stored in pollen and nectar
solutions first. Both insecticides and and are later eaten by larval bees. Even
herbicides can be harmful to bees. While sublethal doses of insecticides can
herbicides don’t directly target pollinators, eventually kill bees by affecting their
they can destroy plants that provide behavior. Bees that are exposed may have
flowers when crops are not in bloom, trouble navigating their way back to the
forcing bees to forage more widely for nest after foraging, or they may; simply be
food. This requires more energy and unable to fly.
exposes them to more threats, and as a
result, they produce fewer offspring to For more information regarding Georgia’s
emerge the following year. Insecticides, on native plants, to utilize the EcoScapes
the other hand, target insects and, native plant search engine website, or to
depending on the active ingredient and learn how to further promote and protect
how it is formulated and applied, have a pollinators, go to the EcoScapes website:
www.marex.uga.edu/ecoscapes/.
Large carpenter bee (Bombus sp.) and Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) on Giant Ironweed (Vernonia gigantea)
Source: Kevin Brooks, EcoScapes Native Plant Demonstration GardenYou can also read
