Rare Texas pollinator plant being driven to extinction. BioQuip closing operations. Some bees became extinct before they were discovered.
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What are Friends of the Bee Report saying?
More readers became Friends of the Bee Report this past week, and so more gratitude goes out today: Thank you! I’m also grateful for readers taking the time to share with me why they chose to support the Bee Report.
“I like having a summary email to look through to get the ‘latest and greatest’ to know I’m up to date, and have found it relevant and comprehensive for my work,” wrote Rich Hatfield, a conservation biologist with the Xerces Society. “I believe that paying people for their work (and I value how thoughtfully you approach these things) is important, and I’m soooo tired of advertising as a way to make contributions like this ‘free’.”
“Even the layout is nice!” wrote Laura Arneson, owner of the Wild Bee Project. “There is so much out there now and the sensationalism and inaccuracy of many stories is tiresome. I find The Bee Report is the antidote to that. Only reputable, informative, or interesting/curious articles are featured so I don’t have to sift through anything lame.”
Ron Miksha, a bee ecologist who writes the Bad Beekeeping Blog, finds the brief synopsis of papers, including native bee journal articles, valuable and engaging. “Keep digging for interesting news and science releases about bees!” he wrote.
Jen Reschke, a homestead beekeeper, also really enjoys the format of the Bee Report. She says it makes it easy to find the bee-related news she’s interested in. “I became a Friend because I find the research articles captivating,” she wrote. “I would be sad to see it go away, which is why I wanted to support it.”
Were you looking forward to opening the Bee Report today? Is $2 per month within your budget? Then consider becoming a Friend. Help us ensure that bee-related news is easy to find, easy to share and accessible to all!
Conservation
Photo: sambiology, iNaturalist
(CBS) Prostrate milkweed, a rare plant native to Texas and northeastern Mexico, is part of an import support system for bees and monarch butterflies. But now, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering naming the plant an endangered species as humans destroy their critical habitats. The prostrate milkweed's flowers attract and support native pollinators, including large bees and wasps, and it serves as a host plant for monarch butterflies. “Unfortunately, this species is negatively impacted by competition from introduced buffelgrass and increased development in its native Tamaulipan shrubland habitat.”
Supporters of Bell Bowl Prairie interrupt airport director speech
(Rock River Current) A speech by the director of the Chicago Rockford International Airport was briefly interrupted by supporters of an effort to save Bell Bowl Prairie from being razed as part of the airport’s $50 million cargo expansion. After intervention from some attendees, including the Loves Park mayor, the group was escorted out of the building. They staged a display of signs outside Forest Hills Road as attendees left the event. The group has been pushing for about six months to attempt to convince or force the airport to redesign its expansion so that it can coexist with the rare native prairie, where an endangered rusty patched bumble bee was discovered in August.
Selecting seeds to balance the needs of pollinators and grazing bison
(Xerces Society) “I am an advocate for using customized native seed mixes for habitat restoration. While designing a unique mix takes time, it can be well worth the extra effort. The right mix of plants can boost the long-term ecology and function of a landscape and can be particularly important for working lands – those with multiple uses like agroforestry, grazing and silvopasture... Last year, I had the privilege of working on a seed mix puzzle that stretched my imagination and forced me to balance lofty ecological goals with specific cost and program constraints.”
Earth could surpass ability of ecosystems to recover from warming
(Scientific American) Some parts of the planet are approaching the limits of their ability to adapt to climate change, scientists warned ahead of a major U.N. report being released later this month. Extreme drought and heat could prevent trees from absorbing carbon dioxide, thrusting some ecosystems past the point from which they can recover, the researchers said. Some systems, like tropical coral reefs, have already surpassed those limits and are headed toward decline.
Economics
Photo: BioQuip
BioQuip, popular supplier of entomology products, to cease operations in March
(Twitter, BioQuip Products @BioQuip) “After 75 years in operation, BioQuip will be closing & ceasing operations on March 11, 2022. We appreciate the support you have provided over the years & we could not have been successful without your valued patronage.”
(Naratek) Some 30 years ago, a Canadian researcher discovered an environmentally friendly way to deploy bees in the fight against grey mold. This approach, which holds a lot of promise for European fruit growers, is currently being tested on Swiss berry patches.
Bee Friendly wines in Australia
(Bee Friendly Farming) Wayfinder in Western Australia’s Margaret River wine region has wider ambitions than simply creating a delicious drop in a bottle. Theirs is a long-term vision to integrate habitat conservation, environmental restoration, and organic certification for their vineyard and farm. The impetus to gain certification with Bee Friendly Farming was a tangible and relatable way to share the story of what Wayfinder is doing to increase floral diversity and native vegetation, and enhance habitat for pollinators and wildlife.
Theft of honey bee colonies in California part of industry trend
(The Press Democrat) Millions of honey bees owned by Tauzer Apiaries mysteriously vanished around the end of January from a property in Mendocino County. By several accounts, the theft reflects a consistent burden members of the apiary industry face, especially during this time of year when bees are pollinating and in high demand by growers. Around 600 hives were stolen across California last year and more than 800 have been taken so far this year. People within the industry say this type of crime has been common for years. Often, they’re committed by other companies or at least people who know how to handle bees.
Policy/Law
Photo: Mitch Diamond, Getty Images
5 things to know about California bill to curb neonics
(NRDC) “California just became the latest state to move toward curbing neurotoxic neonicotinoid insecticides. AB 2146, introduced by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and co-sponsored by NRDC, Environment California, and California Native Plant Society, would ban nearly all non-agricultural uses of these bee-killing pesticides – like those on lawns, gardens, and golf courses. The bill follows the lead of groundbreaking legislation in Maine and New Jersey. Its passage in the most populous state in the nation would mark a turning point in the years-long battle to rein in neonics.”
Will Biodiversity Net Gain deliver for nature in England?
(British Ecological Society) Across the U.K. there is a conflict between the development of land and biodiversity conservation. The introduction of a mandatory 10% Biodiversity Net Gain requirement through the 2021 Environment Act seeks to tackle this conflict in England, requiring a net gain in biodiversity relative to the pre-development biodiversity value. Developments will therefore have to be designed in such a way that they provide benefits to people and biodiversity as well as reducing impacts on the wider environment. However, research indicates that the mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain requirement in England will need refinement in order to deliver true gains for nature.
Australian native bee strategy unveiled
(AgriFutures) AgriFutures has just released a new Strategic Research, Development and Extension plan for native bees. Australia has about 1650 named native bee species. All are valuable pollinators, while the stingless bees also produce a highly-valued honey with reported health benefits. This honey is now worth about $1 million a year but is tipped to fetch up to $450 per kilogram and could be a $5 million industry in the coming decade. This new plan identifies opportunities and barriers. By setting RDE priorities it will help drive investment, growth and competitive advantage within the industry.
Promote Pollinators organizes workshops to support development of national pollinator strategies
(Promote Pollinators) “To support our members in developing their pollinator strategies, Promote Pollinators will be organising a series of workshops based on the Theory of Change (TOC) methodology. Three member countries – Costa Rica, Portugal and Nigeria – will be participating in the first series of workshops. The main steps that will be followed in the workshops are: formulating an impact statement, identifying negative and positive factors, identifying stakeholders involved and the design of the TOC.”
Science
Photo: Senckenberg
Some bees became extinct before they were discovered
(Phys.org, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum) An international team of researchers studied stingless bees from East Africa that were encased in tree resin and copal. In their study, the researchers describe two new species and explain that they most likely became extinct prior to their discovery. The coastal forests where the bees were found are among the most threatened areas worldwide.
Floral resources shape parasite and pathogen dynamics in bees facing urbanization
(Twitter, Hamutahl Cohen @BeeScientista) “We looked at parasitism in city bumble bees. We found that garden size promotes bee diversity, which is associated with reduced parasitism. also found that honey bee parasitism associated with more parasitism in bumble bees. Plus some other cool findings!” Original paper
(Bumblebee Conservation Trust) For most of the U.K.’s bumble bee species, winter is a time for hibernation. Indeed, queens can be expected to spend about half of their life in hibernation. But for the Buff-tailed bumble bee (Bombus terrestris), winter can be just as busy a time as the rest of the year. In the warmer parts of the U.K., particularly in urban areas, fully active winter colonies of this species, including queens and workers, are now regularly recorded, even when temperatures are close to freezing and there is snow on the ground.
Society/Culture
Artwork: Emre Karacan; Meltem Şahin
NFT collection aims to save endangered bees in Turkey
(Hürriyet Daily News) A social-responsibility project has been launched to mitigate the threat of Turkey’s recurring wildfires and protect the country’s diverse coastal regions. By bringing together the right stakeholders for a common cause, the Beeing Hope project seeks to heal Turkey’s fire-scorched ecosystems, protect endangered bee populations and help resuscitate local pine honey production.
Technology
Photo: Mark Newman, Getty Images
Listen to these amazing sounds of lost places and animals within them
(Smithsonian Magazine) Martyn Stewart has always listened closely to the world around him. Now in his 60s, Stewart has amassed a collection of more than 30,000 hours of material, including birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, insects and entire soundscapes. He estimates that two-thirds of his library captures soundscapes that have since been damaged or lost. The public can now access more than 200 of those sounds, a gift from Stewart meant to inspire conservation as he contemplates his passing. “We’re a visual culture and have, until very recently, studied the wild natural primarily through what we see. But a much fuller understanding can be learned from what we hear.”
One More Thing…
“Not Wordle, just North American bumble bee species at risk of extinction” From Emily May @emtomology via Twitter.