More Benefits Of Attracting Pollinators

[Colin Keizer]

Or, more research about the benefits of attracting pollinators.

http://phys.org/news/2016-01-pollinator-diversity-crop-yields.html

I've been working on increasing the diversity of pollinators, especially bees, in our home garden.  Looks like I should continue that.

[Colin Keizer]

Something to think about -- queen bees vaccinate their broods.

http://entomologytoday.org/2015/08/03/researchers-discover-key-to-b...

This process seems likely to be rather stressed by trucking thousands of hives from Maine to California and back again each year.  

[Darien Payne]

Thanks Colin for this link, really interesting info.

We now know that sugar is not healthy for humans, but beekeepers often feed it to bees in the winter. I wonder if removing too much of their natural food (honey & pollen) and then feeding them sugar instead would also compromise their immune system. 

[Darien Payne]

Another great link! Thank you.

Here's one of my favorite entomology sites, Dr. Mc Bug! Click on the farmscaping tab to get info on what plants provide nectar & pollen for beneficial insects (of course he is in a South East US climate, but many of the plants are useful here too). Predator and parasitic beneficial insects are also pollinators when they feed on flowers.

[Susan & Merv Montacute]

We'll try to bring some information on Mason bees (native pollinators) to our meeting this Saturday.

http://www.seattletimes.com/life/lifestyle/create-a-simple-house-fo...