12 Nests: An update on the Australian green carpenter bee
In January of this year, the wildfires in Australia were still burning. By that time they had claimed over two dozen human lives, ruined nearly 3,000 homes, and possibly killed up to an estimated one billion animals. The wildfires posed a very real threat to the insect populations in Australia, and had put one native bee on the brink of extinction: the green carpenter bee, Xylocopa aerata.
The fires have since died down and recovery is underway for both people and ecosystems. One bit of good news in the aftermath is that the researchers who have long led the efforts to protect and conserve the green carpenter bee received a $15,000 grant to continue their work. And just this week, Dr. Remko Leijs sent an email update on how things are going:
“Last week we have been to Kangaroo Island to do our first survey of the 5% remaining un-burned habitat, and with lots of effort (5 days in the field with 3 persons) we found 12 nests. Normally we used to get that number in hour searching. So the good thing is that the bees are still there, but in very low densities. We hope that with giving them artificial nesting stalks we can increase the population size. We will be back in July to place these nesting stalks and do further surveys. We also plan to go there in September when the bees are active again.”
The researchers, in partnership with the Wheen Bee Foundation and the nonprofit Seacology, are now raising funds to construct hundreds of artificial nests in key areas on Kangaroo Island. These artificial nests will provide crucial nesting habitat for the bees while the trees grow back. According to the GoFundMe page, all funds raised will go directly to the project.
The podcast will be back next week with a brand new episode! In the meantime, why not catch up on some previous episodes?
Do you have tips, comments, questions or ideas for collaboration? Please send them to tbr@bymattkelly.com.
Happy World Bee Day (May 20)
From the Wildlife Photographer of the Year account @NHM_WPY on Twitter: “For #WorldBeeDay we're sharing this remarkably detailed shot of bees that have lined up on a stem of long grass to snooze taken by Frank Deschandol. As they are cold-blooded, bees gain energy from the sun’s heat so have to rest during the night and in cooler weather.”
Conservation
Iowa farm group restoring habitat for bees, fish
(UPI) The Iowa Soybean Association is leading a project to convert several acres of unused agricultural land to habitat for endangered native bees and fish in coming years. The project is targeting habitat for the rusty patched bumble bee. Syngenta, a global seed and pesticide company, has agreed to provide tens of thousands of dollars of upcoming work.
Why ‘No Mow May’ could be a boon for Toronto's bumble bee populations
(CBC) Torontonians with more time on their hands might be itching to do some yard work as the weather improves, but local conservationists say wildlife would indeed benefit from people letting their lawns grow a little wilder than usual. Plantlife, which is spearheading the initiative, says mowing your lawn just once a month can lead to a 10-fold increase in the number of bees pollinating the area.
How will bees react during Rome’s lockdown?
(Phys.org) Even as Rome endured a recently ended two-month lockdown, some lucky honey bees residing in hives atop the special forestry unit of Italy's carabinieri – the military police which has a special force charged with protecting forests and the environment – were thriving. The coronavirus epidemic offered a unique opportunity for research, as traffic, pollution and noise in the sprawling city virtually stopped overnight in early March after a nationwide quarantine was ordered.
Economics
Launching Bee Better Certified in California vineyards
(Xerces Society) In the fall of 2019, Xerces received a Conservation Innovation Grant from the Natural Resource Conservation Service to demonstrate the benefits of Bee Better Certification within the wine industry. To kickoff the implementation stage of the project, Xerces conducted site visits at the five participating California vineyards to assess the potential for habitat and to discuss the pesticide practices outlined under Bee Better Certified.
Winery incorporates native prairie into vineyard
(Xerces Society) Bee Better Certified Klickitat Canyon Winery has incorporated native prairie into the understory of their vineyard. The perennial grasses and wildflowers provide flowers, nesting habitat and serve as host plants to butterflies while also providing pest control services within the vineyard.
Why are bees important in the vineyard?
(Decanter) The correlation between bees and fine wine quality may not be an obvious one, but Nicole and Xavier Rolet of Ventoux’s Chêne Bleu wine estate feel so passionately about the subject that they are funding research into the role of bees in sustainable viticulture, focusing on beehives as a catalyst for fine wine.
Indiana company bringing bees to former mine properties
(WISHTV) An Indiana-based company that specializes in the redevelopment of former mining properties is adding another focus to its efforts. Land Betterment Corp. has formed a new subsidiary, Pollinate, which aims to cultivate bee colonies at the mines. Land Betterment says the goal of the subsidiary is to further the company’s overall mission of enhancing the ecosystem of the mining sites and creating sustainable community development and jobs.
Science
Bumble bees bite plants to make them flower early, surprising scientists
(National Geographic) Bumble bees aren’t merely bumbling around our gardens. They’re actively assessing the plants, determining which flowers have the most nectar and pollen, and leaving behind scent marks that tell them which blooms they’ve already visited. Now, a new study reveals that bumble bees force plants to flower by making tiny incisions in their leaves – a discovery that has stunned bee scientists.
Study traces how farmlands affect bee disease spread
(Cornell University) A new study on bees, plants and landscapes in upstate New York sheds light on how bee pathogens spread, offering possible clues for what farmers could do to improve bee health. The study found that 65 percent of bee species and 75 percent of flower species carried pathogens, and that pathogens are transmitted between bees and flowers.
One More Thing…
In the absence of a Bee Report episode this week, I offer you an episode from one of my favorite podcasts: Octomom by Radiolab. The story: “In 2007, Bruce Robison’s robot submarine stumbled across an octopus settling in to brood her eggs. It seemed like a small moment. But as he went back to visit her, month after month, what began as a simple act of motherhood became a heroic feat that has never been equalled by any known species on Earth.” Check. It. Out.