News
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Flowers throughout the year
Published on May 1, 2019
The best habitats for bees have flowering plants rich in nectar and pollen throughout the growing season. Survey your yard and garden to see when flowers are abundant and when they are scarce. -
Introduction to protecting and increasing pollinators in your landscape
Published on May 1, 2019
Most of the fruit and vegetables we eat would not exist if we did not have honey bees and native bees to pollinate the flowers they developed from. -
Better habitat for bees
Published on May 1, 2019
In general, herbs and garden perennials are good for bees, while most annual bedding plants are less attractive to them. -
Landscape plants and wildflowers attractive to butterflies for nectar feeding
Published on May 1, 2019
Many of the flowering plants attractive to bees will also be visited by butterflies. However, butterflies are attracted to flowers almost entirely for feeding on nectar. -
Factors that threaten pollinator health
Published on May 1, 2019
Most researchers agree that a combination of factors is causing declines in bee and pollinator populations, including loss of habitat or flowers that provide pollen and nectar, pesticide exposure, parasites and pathogens. -
Considerations for disease management
Published on May 1, 2019
It was previously thought that fungicides and bactericides are harmless to honey bees and other pollinators, and in fact, most fungicides are still considered relatively safe, even while spraying when pollinators are present. -
Current honey bee and bumble bee stocking information
Published on April 12, 2019
Honey bees and bumble bees can be rented or purchased for crop pollination at appropriate stocking densities. -
Bumble bees in greenhouse vegetable production
Published on April 12, 2019
Commercial bumble bees have a life style and foraging behavior that is fitting for greenhouse operations. -
Are bumble bees causing my tomato flowers to fall off?
Published on April 12, 2019
Early market hoop house tomato growers are reporting blossom drop soon after bumble bee delivery, but the flower abortions are probably not caused by bees. -
Entomology student camps out to crack mystery of who preys on monarch eggs
Published on March 13, 2019
Only about 5 percent of monarch eggs survive to become butterflies. Doctoral student Andrew Myers set up 24/7 surveillance to determine who is preying on the eggs.