No Mow May: Count all the flowers and bees
This week on the podcast we're talking about mowing lawns – or rather not mowing lawns – and the impact it can have on urban bees.
You may have heard about No Mow May, an initiative from Plantlife in the United Kingdom which encourages people to stop mowing for the entire month. One of the communities participating in the initiative was Appleton, Wisconsin.
And Israel Del Toro, an assistant professor at Lawrence University, went out and surveyed the bees of Appleton at the end of No Mow May. So he and I chat about the fieldwork, the results and what it was like working with the city government to make this happen.
The Bee Report podcast is on Apple, Stitcher, other major platforms and thebeereport.buzzsprout.com.
Do you have tips, comments, questions or ideas for collaboration? Please send them to tbr@bymattkelly.com.
Conservation
UNM Twin Cities is now a Bee Campus
(University of Minnesota Extension) The University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus is now an affiliate of Bee Campus USA. As an official Bee Campus, Extension and several University colleges have pledged to highlight and expand the university's actions to promote pollinator conservation.
(VTDigger) While many Vermonters went months without a haircut during the Covid-19 quarantine, some of the state’s cemeteries are still waiting for a trim. This year’s disruption has forced some cities to reconsider their maintenance practices, and some people think the wilder look could be worth keeping. “Most people are glad to see the wildflowers coming. So it’s just, how long do we let it go?”
Economics
Helping honey bees make it through winter with early cold storage
(USDA ARS) Putting honey bees into early indoor cold storage in October rather than November increases their chances of surviving the winter and the colonies emerge readier to pollinate almonds. Overwintering managed honey bee colonies in indoor cold storage in states such as Idaho has become increasingly popular with beekeepers because, in the cold, bees don't need to forage for food, be fed by beekeepers, or be treated for parasitic Varroa mites—a serious pest of honey bees. This cuts down on beekeepers' costs and can greatly reduce overwintering colony losses.
Croatia region declares natural disaster after 50 million bees were poisoned
(Euractiv) Beekeepers were shocked and devastated when they encountered a “carpet” of millions of dead bees lying on the ground in a northern region of Croatia. The local government has declared a natural disaster. Veterinary inspectors and forensic scientists are looking into what caused the deaths. Pesticide poisoning, though not officially confirmed as yet, is suspected to be the cause of this ecological disaster.
Policy/Law
‘National nature service’ needed for green recovery in England
(The Guardian) The national government must “seize the day” and create a national nature service to restore wildlife and habitats in England, say a coalition of the country’s biggest green groups. It said such a move would create thousands of jobs, a more resilient country and tackle the wildlife and climate crises. The coalition has drawn up a list of 330 projects that are ready to go, including flower meadows, “tiny forests” in cities and hillside schemes to cut flooding. It said a service to fund the projects and train workers would create 10,000 jobs and be part of a green recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.
Get off the grass and let the wildflowers and the bees flourish, council told
(The Scotsman) Stirling Council is being called upon to change its approach to grass cutting with two petitions asking the local authority to back down on trimming back verges and other green spaces on a regular basis. “Normally these spring wildflowers wouldn’t have the chance to bloom as grass cutting starts before their flowering period, but this year, as a result of lockdown, they have been left alone to do what they do best; feed the bees, and provide a beautiful display to cheer us all up in the process.”
EPA signs first ever Pollinator Week Proclamation
(Environmental Protection Agency) Administrator Andrew Wheeler has signed a proclamation designating the week of June 22 as National Pollinator Week. Administrator Wheeler is the first EPA Administrator to sign such a proclamation.
Science
Looking for rare bees and finding a new species
(Twitter, The Bees in Your Backyard @BeesBackyard) “There are several known new species of Hesperapis from around the West and they haven't been described yet. And I'm fairly convinced that this is one of these new species.”
Stuck at home, scientists discover nine new insect species
(Wired) Without a DNA sequencer, two Los Angeles entomologists relied on two of biology’s oldest tools: microscopes and lots of free time. Sifting through thousands of insects previously collected via a citizen science project, they ended up discovering nine new species of small flies. “It definitely makes me appreciate what scientists of the past were able to accomplish with rudimentary tools. I don’t have an ergonomic chair at home; I don’t have a fancy microscope. We are all feeling appreciation for things we take for granted.”
Society/Culture
Is #PollinatorWeek just #beewashing?
(Twitter, Charlotte de Keyzer @cwdekeyzer) “I'm hesitant to jump on #PollinatorWeek and provide my expertise & best bee pics for free. This week is supposed to bring greater awareness to the importance of pollinators but looking at the latest tweets, it's mostly being used for advertising. I have some thoughts”
Technology
Robotic crop pollination awarded $1 million grant
(Washington State University) Developing robotic technology for crop pollination is the goal of a new project for Washington State University and Penn State University scientists. Funded by a nearly $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Washington State Department of Agriculture the project will involve looking at models for blossom development, working with camera and machine learning systems, and developing a robotic hand and arm to spread pollen.
One More Thing…
From Hella Bee Nerd @sfbaybees via Twitter: "HBN Pictures proudly presents: ‘The Final Cut’, in SloMoVision!"