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Insect Pollinators Oregon’S Primary Pollinators Are Native Bumble Bees, Sweat Bees, Mining Bees, Wasps, Butterflies, and Moths

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Insect Pollinators Oregon’S Primary Pollinators Are Native Bumble Bees, Sweat Bees, Mining Bees, Wasps, Butterflies, and Moths Introduction to Oregon Insect Pollinators Oregon’s primary pollinators are native bumble bees, sweat bees, mining bees, wasps, butterflies, and moths. Imported European honey bees also play a critical role in pollinating crops. This guide will help you recognize the characteristics of pollinators and their requirements for food and shelter. Bumble bees are social insects that All species nest in the ground. Hal- Native Pollinators build their nests in the ground, of- ictids have a range of nesting hab- Native bees are easily overlooked ten in abandoned mouse burrows, its, from dispersed solitary nests, to since most do not fi t the stereo- empty bird nests, and under fall- densely situated ones with individ- type image, like the European en grass. The mated queen over- ual bees sharing common entrance honey bee, with black and brown- winters in the soil while the rest of ways, to primitive social arrange- ish stripes, living with thousands the colony dies at the onset of cold ments. Halictid bees are common of others in a hive full of honey- weather. In early spring, she estab- insects and good general pollina- comb. About 4,000 species of na- lishes a new nest and rears the fi rst tors. tive bees have been identifi ed and worker brood. These workers are catalogued in North America. They small, sterile females that enlarge range in length from less than one the nest, forage, and tend to the Mining eighth of an inch to more than one next generation of workers. These Bees inch; vary in color from dark brown are larger bees, due to changed Andrenid or black to metallic green and blue; nest conditions, such as increased bees, and may have stripes of red, white, temperature, cell size, and food common- orange, or yellow. availability. Produced in late sum- ly called mer are the fertile females (next mining year’s queens) and males (called or digger Bumble Bees drones), whose sole function is to bees, are There are 49 fertilize the queens before dying in another species of the fall. common bumble bees pollina- in the Unit- tor. They ed States. Sweat Bees resemble the typical honey bee in About 19 of Sweat bee shape and size. Their bodies are these are found in Oregon. is the com- dark in color and covered with fi ne, mon name light brown or yellow hairs. Bumble bees are excellent pollina- for bees in tors, especially of berry species. the Halicti- Andrenid bees have chewing-lap- While bumble bees are general- dae family, ping mouthparts used to manipu- ist foragers that visit a diversity of and they are late and collect nectar and pollen. fl owers, a few groups of fl owers, named for The protruding, ‘lapping’ mouth- such as willows and lupines, are their attraction to the salts in hu- part is shorter in mining bees than particularly important to them. man perspiration. Most sweat bees honeybees, giving them the com- are small to medium in size, 1/8 to mon name of short-tongued bees. Bumble bees practice what is called 3/8 of an inch long. They are gen- As their name suggests, mining ‘buzz pollination’ where they grab erally black or metallic, and some bees dig single nests in the soil. onto the anthers, the pollen-bear- are brilliant green or brassy yellow. Mining bees are solitary and do ing structure, of certain fl owers and not form large, socially organized buzz their fl ight muscles to release Sweat bees are among the most nests. However, thousands of indi- the pollen. This behavior is espe- common bees. There are about viduals may nest in a general area cially important in pollinating blue- 1,000 species in the United States, with good nesting habitat. berries, cranberries, and tomatoes. Canada, and Central America. Wasps gressive than other types of wasps. Like bees, Their nests are always enclosed Other Pollinators yellowjack- with a papery envelope and can be ets and hor- found in the ground, hanging from Syrphid Flies nets belong eaves or tree branches, and occa- Syrphid fl ies, to the insect sionally in wall voids. also known order Hy- as hover fl ies menoptera. The Bald or White Faced ‘Hornet,’ for their abil- These species are benefi cial to hu- is scientifi cally not considered to ity to hover mans for pest control and some be a hornet, but a large wasp. Its in fl ight, are pollination. In addition, thousands coloration is black and white. Their common predators of aphids and of small wasp species are parasites nests are found in trees or shrubs other soft bodied insects. Because of other insect pests, particularly and they become very large by Syrphid fl ies feed on pollen, nectar, aphids and caterpillars. Without summer’s end. The size of the nest, and aphid honeydew, they can also parasitic wasps, pests would over- number of individuals in a colony, act as pollinators. They mimic the take most crops. and the active time beyond summer appearance of bees or wasps as a all depend on the species. protective strategy. There are mul- Yellowjackets tiple species of Syrphid fl ies in Or- can be both egon. benefi cial and problematic wasps. They Non-native Pollinators Butterfl ies are important Butterfl ies, predators and European as well as scavengers, Honey Bees moths, helping to control pests and recycle European can serve organic materials, but can also be a honey as pol- threat to humans due to their abil- bees play linators. ity to sting repeatedly in defense of a critical There are their nests. Yellowjackets are rela- role in approximately 170 species of but- tively short and stout, holding their pollinating terfl ies in Oregon that are found legs close to their body compared crops. They are the pollinator we at sea level, on mountaintops, and with other wasps. Paper wasps, know how to best manage and move everywhere in between. Some range for example, are more slender and for agriculture. However, in recent throughout North America or even have long, dangling legs. All yel- years they have been plagued by other continents. Others, like the lowjackets are striped either black pests, diseases, and most recently, Oregon swallowtail, are unique to and white or black and yellow. They the mysterious colony collapse the Pacifi c Northwest. are rapid fl iers, and are more ag- disorder. Improve pollinator habitat on your property... The USDA Natural Resources Look for opportunities to improve The Xerces Society is a non- Conservation Service (NRCS) pollinator habitat with these NRCS profi t organization that works provides voluntary technical and conservation programs: with farmers and scientists to fi nancial assistance to help private Conservation Security Program protect habitat that supports landowners plan, design and install pollinators. The Xerces Society conservation treatments. Ask Conservation Technical Assistance provides plant lists, crop-specifi c your local NRCS about practices Environmental Quality Incentives Program fact sheets and other guidance for to benefi t pollinators. Locate your Wetlands Reserve Program protecting pollinator habitat. More service center online at: Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program information can be found at: www.or.nrcs.usda.gov www.xerces.org USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. June 2007 .
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