- Author: Cindy Watter, Master Gardener of Napa County
One of the pleasures of being a UC Master Gardener is our monthly seminars. Not only are they varied and interesting, but it is always a pleasure when the local members are present. I enjoy being reminded of how smart my colleagues are. A few months ago, Natasha Mantle gave a talk on California native bees. Her presentation was so interesting I was inspired to learn more about our natives, and why they are so important.
The native bee is a more efficient pollinator than the honeybee (which is not native, but a European import). Natives are active in cold or wet conditions. Natives are more thorough pollinators. Their foraging territory is broader, and they are both generalists and specialists in their foraging—some bees seek out particular plants, and others pollinate all plants. They also teach honeybees how to be more effective pollinators.
Natasha told us about ten California native bees. They are mason/blue orchard bee, leafcutter bee, carpenter bee, yellow nosed bumblebee, squash bee, urban digger bee, long horned bee, sweat bee, and ultra green sweat bee.
The leafcutter bee has sharp mandibles so it can chew leaves and construct nests with leaf pulp. Female mason bees build nests in holes in wood. They also use mud to plug the holes in their nests. The blue orchard bee is particularly useful in pollinating almond trees.
The carpenter bee is fascinating to me. Truth to tell, the variety in my yard is so large it is the easiest variety of bee for me to see, as I am nearsighted and not particularly stealthy. I often observe shiny inch-long black carpenter bees with beautiful transparent purple wings crawling over the passionflower and salvia in my yard. They chew on soft wood to form holes for nests. While some eastern carpenter bees may attack the built environment, western varieties prefer to nest in flowering plant stalks, such as agave. The females build the nests, which are complicated structures. Nest tunnels are built with sawdust in a spiral pattern. I haven't found any yet in my yard, but I am still hunting.
Sweat bees are named after one of their attractants, human sweat. They will walk on a person's arm, for example, lapping up sweat, until the host notices (they are quite small) and starts shrieking. Which leads me to stings. Bees do not want to sting you. I have only been stung once in my life, by a bee upon which I stepped, barefoot. Of course, if you are allergic to bee stings, you should be extra cautious anyway in your garden, wearing long sleeves and not running around shoeless.
Squash bees collect pollen from the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes squash and pumpkins. They prefer the pollen from those plants but will collect nectar from anywhere. The females make nests in the ground, but the males will sleep at night in a squash blossom.
Long horned bees are named after the long antennae on the males. The males like to sleep on flowers—you can sometimes see a group of them on a sunflower—while the females prefer to nest in a crack in the ground.
Digger bees are generalists, collecting pollen from native plants as well as other plants such as tomatoes. They, too, nest in the soil.
Bumble bees also nest underground in abandoned animal burrows. Their extremely loud buzz helps them extract pollen from difficult sites. You may ask, “Where are the beehives?”
Only 10% of bee species live in hives. Most bees are solitary and live in already existing structures, such as a hole in the ground. Note: UC Master Gardeners promote mulching, but if you want a good native bee habitat, leave some areas of your yard mulch free.
Natalie gave us some examples of plants that are attractive to native bees: ceanothus, gallardia, Frikart's aster, western redbud, Cascade Creek goldenrod, California poppy, nepeta, Germander sage, Russian sage, and Goodwin Creek lavender. These are perfect for a water-wise garden, too.
A few years ago, there was great concern that bees were dying off. The syndrome was called Colony Collapse Disorder--but it referred to honeybees, not native bees. Scientists studied the causes, which could be pathogens, pesticides or even stress. However, honeybees are a big business, and they are doing well now. It is native bees that are in greater danger, according to Steven Blackledge of Environment America. Natives are losing their habitat, as well as suffering from climate change and a landscape that is loaded with pesticides. Several states have restricted pesticide use, and the 2021 federal infrastructure bill authorized funding to promote pollinator-friendly plants along roadsides. That money has not yet been spent. However, millions of Americans are transforming their yards into pollinator habitats now—a good sign. Pollinator Week 2024 in June 17-24, so maybe you should, too.
Become a Master Gardener Volunteer! UC Master Gardeners of Napa County is now accepting applications for the class of 2025. Visit us at napamg.ucanr/edu to read the informational brochure and register to attend a mandatory information session for applicants. Applications are due September 25, 2024, at 5:00 pm.
Workshop: Join the UC Master Gardeners of Napa County for a workshop on “Get Your Hands Dirty in the Pollinator Garden” on Saturday, June 29, from 10 am to 12 pm, at the Las Flores Community Center, 4300 Linda Vista Ave., Napa.
Workshop: Join the UC Master Gardeners of Napa County for a workshop on “The Succulent /Dry Garden” at the Las Flores Community Center, 4300 Linda Vista Ave., Napa on Saturday, July 27, 2024 from 10 am to 12 pm
Help Desk: The Master Gardener Help Desk is available to answer your garden questions on Mondays and Fridays from 10 am until 1 pm at the University of California Cooperative Extension Office, 1710 Soscol Ave, Suite 4, Napa. Or send your questions to mastergardeers@countyofnapa.org. Include your name, address, phone number, and a brief description.
![carpenter-bee-1696018 1280 Pixabay carpenter-bee-1696018 1280 Pixabay](/blogs/blogcore/blogfiles/107476.jpg)
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- Author: Drew Lyon
- Posted by: Gale Perez
- A WSU Wheat Beat Podcast episode, “Crossing the Boundaries of Herbicide Resistance” with Drs. Ian Burke and Nick Bergmann, highlights the role of social science in tackling the problem of herbicide resistance. In their conversation with me, they share how social scientists can facilitate more meaningful discussion between growers, scientists, and government agencies to identify possible solutions for managing herbicide resistance. Listen to the podcast and share your thoughts on the approach they discuss.
- Ian Burke and Drew Lyon are members of the GROW (Getting Rid of Weeds) network, a network of weed scientists from across the U.S. focused on herbicide resistance management. GROW just published a new page about the Basics of Herbicide Resistance. The page covers how herbicide resistance develops, how to identify herbicide resistance, and what future threats might be evolving, such as metabolic resistance. The information on this page provides a strong foundation for understanding herbicide resistance. We welcome your thoughts on the page, including what additional information you would like to see on the topic.
- Italian ryegrass is the poster child for herbicide resistance in the inland PNW. Several PNW colleagues and I just published PNW778, Italian Ryegrass Management in Inland Pacific Northwest Dryland Cropping Systems. If Italian ryegrass plagues your farming operation, or you just want to learn more about this particularly adaptable weed, download a free copy of the publication for your library, and let us know if you find the information helpful.
The problems created by herbicide resistance will likely get worse as we rely more on a fewer number of still effective herbicides to manage troublesome weeds. To stay up-to-date on the latest resources, visit Herbicide Resistance Resources regularly, and please let us know what additional information you are looking for. Thanks!
Drew Lyon
Endowed Chair in Small Grains Extension and Research, Weed Science
Washington State University
Original source: Weeders of the West blog :: May 30, 2024
To ensure the safety of your frozen food after a power outage, especially when you're away from home, use the Frozen Penny Test. This method is a reliable indicator of whether your food has thawed and refrozen during your absence.
- Fill a small cup with water and place it in the freezer.
- Once the water is completely frozen, place a penny on top of the ice.
- If you return from vacation and find the penny still on top, your freezer's contents remained frozen, and your food should be safe.
- If the penny has sunk to the bottom, it indicates that the food has defrosted and then refrozen, suggesting that it may not be safe to consume.
Why It Works: The penny acts as a simple gauge for the state of the ice. If the freezer loses power and the ice melts, the penny will sink. When the power returns and the water refreezes, the penny will be trapped at the bottom, signaling that the contents have been compromised.
Remember, when in doubt, it's always safer to discard questionable food to avoid the risk of foodborne illnesses. This test provides a quick and easy way to make an informed decision about the safety of your frozen goods.
- Author: Michelle Leinfelder-Miles
Please save the date for the annual UC Dry Bean Field Day! UC Davis and UC Cooperative Extension will provide updates on dry bean research and management.
When: Thursday, August 15th from 9:30-11:30am
Where: UC Davis campus, specific location will be forthcoming
Who should attend: California growers, consultants, plant breeders, and seed industry and other allied industry professionals
What: Information from UC research on lima, blackeye, and garbanzo beans. Continuing education credits, light refreshments, shade, and seating will be provided.
In a future post, we will provide the agenda and information about continuing education credits. We hope you will join us at the field day!
![UCCE logo UCCE logo](/blogs/blogcore/blogfiles/107474.png)
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Ever seen a honey bee and a butterfly sharing a lavender blossom?
Just in time for National Pollinator Week, June 17-23, we saw this today.
What could be more pollinator friendly than that?
The honey bee, Apis mellifera, and the Gulf Fritillary, Agraulis vanillae, meet on many a blossom. The butterfly usually flutters away, departing first.
This time the bee left first.
As Pollinator Partnership says on its website:
"Pollinator Week 2024 is a celebration of the vital role that pollinators play in our ecosystems, economies, and agriculture. Under the inspiring theme Vision 2040: Thriving Ecosystems, Economies, and Agriculture, this year's event urges us to envision a future where pollinators not only survive but thrive. These essential creatures, including bees, butterflies, moths, bats, beetles, and hummingbirds, are the unsung heroes behind the food we enjoy and the beauty that surrounds us. As we reflect on the interconnectedness of our world, let's unite in a collective effort to protect and preserve these crucial pollinators. By understanding the impact of our actions on their habitats and embracing sustainable practices, we can pave the way for a flourishing future..."
The bee and the butterfly would agree--if they could agree.
![A Gulf Fritillary and a honey bee sharing the same lavender blossom in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) A Gulf Fritillary and a honey bee sharing the same lavender blossom in a Vacaville garden. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](/blogs/blogcore/blogfiles/107473.jpg)