- Author: Betty Homer
On January 26, 2013, Rush Ranch hosted Dr. Robbin Thorp, a native pollinator expert and emeritus professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Thorp gave a lecture entitled "Buzzed for Bees," where his presentation focused primarily on the topic of native bees (as opposed to honeybees).
Dr. Thorp explained that bees share a common ancestry with wasps. Some of the differences between bees and wasps include, but are not limited to, how bees use nectar as "flight fuel" and that there are branched hairs on bees not found on wasps. There are apparently 19,500 species of bees around the world, which are more than all the species of reptiles, mammals, and amphibians combined. Of the 4,000 species of bees found in the United States, 1,600 species are located in California, with 75 species found in the Haagan-Daz bee garden on the UC Davis campus alone. Fun fact for trivia enthusiasts--there are no native bumble bees in Australia.
In contrast to honeybees, only 10% of native bees are social. Most native bees are solitary, nest in the ground, and do not store much honey.
Farmers and gardeners are especially interested in the well-being of their bees, as 15 - 40% of all crops and edible plants are pollinated by bees. According to Dr. Thorp, one acre can support two bee hives, and native bees such as the Mason bee, are more efficient at pollinating than the honeybee.
Dr. Thorp discussed how gardeners and farmers can help enhance the native bee population by creating an environment appropriate for them. Such strategies, include, but are not limited to, allowing weeds and cover crops to go to flower, multi-cropping, and growing hedgerows. Since native bees are seeking both pollen and nectar, in order to attract them, one must plant a diversity of flowers in 3' x 3' blocks/sections and create a nesting area for them, which may be as simple as leaving some bare soil and/or creating tubular cavities for nesting.
Winter/Spring: Ceanothus
Summer: Sunflowers and their relatives.
End of Summer/Late Fall: Cosmos, Coyote Bush, and Asters.
Dr. Thorp said that wild bees are not abundant, and springtime is the best time to view them. He suggested checking out Manzanita trees while they are blooming, as they are most likely to attract solitary bees, like the digger bee.
For additional information on native bees, Dr. Thorp suggested the following resources, in no particular order:
Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
UC Berkeley Urban Bee garden
UC Davis - Haagen Daz Honey Bee Haven
UC Davis Arboretum All stars
NAPPC planting guides
National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS)