Hibbertia scandens longiflora pungens

Plant2pollinator Field Investigation

A guide to studying insect pollinators in the field. Grevillea oleoides Isopogon Crowea saligna

Jacksonia scoparia Eucalyptus leucoxylon Pultanaea polyfolia

www.australianmuseum.net.au/Bugwise/

Correa reflexa Acacia ulicifolia Banksia ericifolia

This field activity has been designed to supplement Plant2pollinator – a suite of ideas and resources for investigating insect diversity.

More information: www.australianmuseum.net.au/Welcome-to-Plant2pollinator/

It has been written for stages 2-4 and can be used in native gardens, vegetable gardens or exotic gardens.

For more information about flowering times go to: www.australianmuseum.net.au/document/Flower-and-insect-calendar/

The keys and other resources have been researched and designed by Phoebe Meagher, Sue Lewis and Geoff Gardner as part of the BugWise for Schools project, 2009-2010

BugWise for Schools has been made possible due funding from the Environmental Trust.

Focus Question: What is MY INSECT pollinator? What pollinators are in your local environment?

What you need One pair of wings Two pairs of wings 1. Observation matrix 2. Pollinator preference key Wings longer than Front wings powdery 3. Insect pollinator identification key body and and mouthparts like a Front wings hardened held delta tube span 4. Flower photo id chart (optional) yes Where to start BEE FLY or yes no Hind legs resemble 1. Find a flower and fill in the observation matrix. Wings “chicken drumsticks” shorter or as Tip of 2. Use the insect pollinator key to identify insects. long as antennae HOVERFLY body and is club- 3. Use the pollinator preference key to predict what insect may polli- held like overlapped no yes nate that flower or Follow up questions Small to Wings of large BEETLE varied body,  What is the most common insect in your area? lengths often very and held in hairy.  How many different insects did you find? varied Obvious Short positions yes antennae antennae and no  What do you think it means to have many different flowers and obvious insects in your area? Other FLIES cerci (“tails”)  Do all insects pollinate? BUTTERFLY WASP or BEE  When there are not many insects about (usually in cold weather), no GRASS-HOPPER and what insects would you predict to pollinate your flowers? Very small LOCUST body <2mm,  How do flowers attract insects? MOTH with Long hair- feathery like wings antennae  What types of flowers could you to attract certain insects? and two These images are intended to cerci Ideas for long term studies be impressions and not (“tails”) necessarily scientifically correct. Compare flower and insect types between seasons THRIP KATYDID or TREE CRICKET Compare flower and insect types in non-impacted (bush/garden) to im- pacted sites (construction) Compare flower and insect types before and after the planting of a new vegetation patch. More ideas?

www.australianmuseum.net.au/Predicting-insect-pollinators-Stage-4

Date: Time: Weather details: Location:

Predicted Insect Flower Scent Insect Behaviour Insect Name Flower Shape/Size Colour Pollinator (sweet, citrus, pun- Plant Name (flying, sitting, walking, watch- (use insect Pollinator ID (draw/describe) (bright or dull) (use pollinator prefer- gent) ing, eating) key) ence key)

For example:- -Bees hover around Bee -Tiny mites crawling amongst Thrips Bright yellow sweet wattle Bee Beetles -Beetles eating Ants