Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All PIRU Publications Pollinating Insects Research Unit 1955 Alkali Bees vs. Drainage George E. Bohart Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/piru_pubs Part of the Entomology Commons Recommended Citation Bohart, George E. 1955. Alkali Bees vs. Drainage. Farm & Home Sci. 16(2):23-24. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Pollinating Insects Research Unit at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All PIRU Publications by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Fig. I. (Upper left) Portion of a nesting site of alkali bees. Note salt grass and other plants typical of highly alkali soil Fig. 2. Nest mounds of alkali bees. Dark centers indicate moist soil recently excavated HEREVER alkali bees (Nom ia alkali-bee farming. Furthermore. somewhat higher than adjacent W melanderi Ckll ) are abund­ they may find it necessary to com­ land, or where a local high water ant, alfalfa seed yields are likely to promise with what are generaUy table develops along the margins of be high. Experience in Washing­ recognized as efficient irrigation cut-off ox-bow channels. Basic re­ tnn. Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah and drainage practices. quirements for the occurrence of ( proved that these bees, without nesting in both of the above situa­ help from other species, can polli­ Nesting Sites tions are ( 1) subsurface moistme nate large acreages. In most of the Districts favorable for alkali bees (fig. 2), ( 2 ) alkalinity and ( 3) areas where alkali bees are impor­ have cmtain characte1istics in com­ freedom from :flooding. tant, alfalfa seed growers are in­ mon: rainfall is low, midsummer Today, by far the greatest num­ terested in keeping them healthy. temperatmes are high, and the soil bers of nesting sites are found in Since alkali bees nest in the soil has a compact or "tight" structure. seeped areas resulting from under­ in dense aggregations (.fig. 1), ef­ The land surface is characterized ground movement of excess irriga­ fective populations may occupy a by alkaline, wet zones on low tion water. The establishment of limited acreage. Also, since they slopes or mounds. Such conditions new irrigation dishicts, or the ex­ migrate readily to new nesting occur principally in the lower land pansion of old ones, is often fol­ sites, effective populations may sud­ of the arid, treeless Yalleys of the lowed by a rapid increase in the denly appear in favorable areas and West. number and size of alkali bee nest­ build up rapidly from year to year. Before the development of irri­ ing sites. Such a development is These characteristics make it fea­ gation in the 'Vest, alkali bees must now taking place in the Rosa area sible for growers having land fa­ have nested in natmally moist of 'i\'ashu1gton. Irrigation and the vorable for nesting to attract ag­ areas. However, populations were presence of new forage cause the gregations and to maintain nesting undoubtedly smaU since now near­ bees to establish new holdings and sites without sacrificing much land. ly all of their forage consists of expand their old ones. Increased However, growers must understand weeds along irrigation channels. al­ seed yields resulting from increased the rather specific requirements of falfa, and other introduced plants pollination encourage the farmers in irrigated fields. to develop more seed acreage and more irrigation. Under such "snow­ DR. GEORGE E. BOHART is a member Under modern conditions, ex­ of the Legume Seed Research Laboratory tensive nesting sites may be found balling" conditions alkali bees can cooperative between the U. S. Depart­ where the aquifers under broad easily keep pace with expanding ment of Agriculrure and the Utah Agri­ cultural Experiment Station. H.is research valleys are subjected to artesian seed acreage. The Wapato, Wash­ ' ~ts with alfalfa pollinators. He is em- pressme. More restricted sites oc­ ington, and Riverton, Wyoming, 1 ed by the Entomology Research • -ncb of the Agriculrural Research Serv­ cur along certain natmal water­ seed districts bear witness to this . ice. courses where the river bottom is (Continued on page 24) FOR J UNE 1955 23 .. Two New Department Heads Named { Howard B. Peterson fessor in 1934 and professor in 1942. 1941 he was appointed chairman of The students he has b·ained in dairy the western division of the Ameri­ R. HowARD B. PETERSOI\ has manu.facturing now hold positions can D airy Science Association, in been appointed to succeed D of responsibility in industry and in 1944 he became state manager of Dr. D . W. Thorne as head of the land grant colleges th1·ougbout the the American Dairy Associati on in Department of Agronomy. Dr. nation. Utah, a position be still holds. In Peterson bas been a member of the Professor .Morris has won nation­ 1952 he was elected secretary of staff since 1940 when he was ap­ al recognition for his teaching and the manufacturing section of the pointed research associate in agron­ his efforts to improve dairy prod­ American D airy Science Associa­ omy. H e is a native of Redmond, ucts. H e has taken an active part tion, in 1953 he became vice chair­ Utah, and a graduate of the Brig­ in the activities of the Utah and man, and he is now national chair­ ham Young University and the the American Dairy Association. In man of the manufacturing section. University of Iebraska where he received his doctor of philosophy degree in 1940. ALKALI BEES Dr. Peterson's research has been (Continued /1·om pc£ge 23) in the area of soil chemistry and Decline of Populations a.nd Destruction the last of these are important in fertility. From the spring of 1949 of Nesting Sites until the fall of 1950 he acted as the case of alkali bees. A parasitic project leader of phosphate fertil­ Unfortunately, it seems that just fl y, Heterostylum robustum O.S., izer investigations for the U.S. De­ when things are going at their best has nearly eliminated alkali bees partment of Agriculture. H e is for the bees, trouble strikes, and from Cache Valley, Utah. Parath­ joint author of the book "Irrigated populations of alkali bees decli11e. ion has done likewise for certain soils: their fertility and manage­ Nesting sites may dwindle gradu­ nesting sites near Delta, Utah. ment," in collaboration -..v:ith Dr. ally from year to year or virtually However, neither factor appears to Thorne. In addition he has written disappear in a single season. In have played much part in the de­ a number of bulletins and technical Wyoming the opinion bas devel­ clining population of nesting.. ·s articles. He has been active in oped among growers that alfalfa neru· Riverton, W yoming, and I''vrt national agronomic organizations. seed can be grown successfull y in Hall, Idaho. During 1940 he was president of an area for only about fi ve years. _ esting sites of alkali bees may the W estern Society of Soil Science. The fact that seed yields in the p ast be damaged or destroyed b y ( 1) have declined rapidly after a few flooding, (2) ploughing, ( 3 ) en­ Arthur J. M orris years of ltigh yield may have re­ croachment of dense weed growth, sulted partly from lack of lygus ( 4 ) excessive seepage moistme, RTHUR J. tvloRRis, professor of bug control, but the association in and ( 5 ) dryi ng up. Flooding may A dairy industry and assistant Wyoming of seed production and (Continued on pc£ge 39) dean of the school of Agricultw-e, alkali bees makes one suspect that has been appointed bead of the D e­ declining bee populations have partment of Dairy Indusb·y on the been largely responsible. Such a FARM AND HOME SCIENCE r·etirement of Professor George B. decline seems to be taking place Caine from administrative duties, now in two of the newest and most Published Quarterly by the July l. successful "alkali bee seed areas"­ Agricultural Experiment Station Professor Ylorris obtained both South Pavilion and Hidden Valley, Utah State ~i cultural College his B.S. and M.S. degrees from located on the Bureau of Reclama­ Logan, Utah USAC in 1923 and 1930, respective­ tion project near Riverton, W y­ ly. H e bas done graduate work in oming. R. H . WALKER, Director dairy manufacturing at the Uni­ Why do populations of alkali D. A. BURGOYNE and versity of \.Yisconsin. bees often decline so soon after a B. H . CRANDALL, Asst. Directors From 1923 to 1930, Professor rapid increase? Expanding popula­ GLADYS L. HARRISON, Editor Morris was on the staff of the tions of insects are usually lev­ Address correspo ndence regarding ma· Branch Agricultural College at eled off or reversed by one or more !erial appearing in these columns either Cedar City. He came to USAC in of fom principal factors: ( 1) para­ to the editor or to the a uthor. More d etailed information on the sub· 1931 as assistant professor of dairy sites and disease, ( 2) weather, ( 3) jects discussed here can often be f~ · •nd industry in charge of the creamery. reduction of food sources, and ( 4 ) in Station bulletins and circula rs ci tl H e was appointed associate pro- use of insecticides. The first and be had thr.oug h corresponden ce. ...,, . 24 FARJ\1 AND HOME SCIENCE centrate had a better feed conver­ sion factor than those fed the com­ .,. ·Tlation of protein supplements . ... e high fat level in fish meals would be eA'Pected to improve feed conversion. The heavier weights of the chicks fed the combination protein supple­ ment was undoubtedly a result of greater feed consumption as the lots fed only fish meal had a better feed conversion factor.