124
1 Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers Katherine Odanaka Josh Hall Sabine Nooten Sandra Rehan

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Page 1: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

1

WildBeesofNewEngland

Aguidetocommonpollinators&flowers

Katherine OdanakaJosh Hall

Sabine NootenSandra Rehan

Page 2: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

The Rehan Lab at University of New Hampshire(UNH) focuses on wild bee research. We havespecial interest in pollinator biodiversity, behavior,and evolution. This guide joins other educationalbooks published to explore the regional native beefaunas of California and the Great Lakes region. Ourmission is to provide information about wild bees inNew England including information on theirdiversity, nesting biology, ecology, and flowerassociations to increase our understanding andawareness of pollinators and the services theyprovide.

The information contained in this field guide is for

educational purposes only. Any references to

commercial products or trade names do not imply

endorsement by the Rehan Lab/UNH or bias against

those not mentioned.

This field guide is produced by the Rehan Lab UNH

October 2018

Any opinions, conclusions or recommendations in

this publication are those of the authors and do not

reflect the view of the Foundation for Food and

Agriculture Research (FFAR)

(coverimagephotocredit:PatrickSchultheiss)AgapostemonvirescensonHeliopsis helianthoides

Page 3: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

WildBeesofNewEngland

Aguidetocommon

pollinators&flowers

ByKatherineOdanaka,JoshHall,SabineNooten&SandraRehan

UniversityofNewHampshire

DepartmentofBiologicalSciencesRehan Lab

Fundingprovidedby:

FoundationforFoodandAgricultureFFARGrant#549038

Reviewedby

SamDroege,USGSJoanMilam,UMassAmherst

SpecialthankstoMollyJacobsonforphotographs

1

Page 4: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

1Introduction 12Howtousethisguide 73Beebiology 84Beesandflowers 155Beemimics 186Commonbeespecies 237Floweringplantsforbees 648 Beeconservation 1069 Keepingthebees 10910Resources 11311Index 114

2

Contents

ThisbookwasproducedtogiveabriefintroductiontothewildbeesofNewEngland.WeproviderelevantinformationregardingtheirbiologyandpicturesofcommonlyencounteredwildbeesandnativeNewEnglandwildflowersidealforbees,aswellasinformationdetailingwildbeedeclinesthroughouttheNewEnglandregion.

Withinthisguidewehavealsoincludedhelpfulandeasywaystoidentifycommonlyencounteredbeesandsomefrequentbeemimics.

Introduction

Page 5: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

Current pollinator conservation practices encouragethe planting of wild flowers to provide both nestingand foraging resources. In this guide, we provideseasonally available wildflowers that are frequentlyvisited by bees.We have included a section detailing the close tiesbetween humans and wild bees, outlining howdependent we are on their ecological services andwhy it is important to conserve pollinators.

SabineNooten

3

Page 6: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

4

TheclimateofNewEnglandvariesgreatlydependingonthelocation.MostofNewEngland(coloredblue)isconsideredtohaveahumidcontinentalclimatewithmildtohotsummersandoftenextremelycoldwinters.Thesouthernparts(coloredgreenandturquoise)arealsocategorizedas‘humidcontinental’,althoughsummerstendtobehotterandwintersaremuchshorterthaninmorenorthernlyregions.

TheNewEnglandclimate

Adam

Peterson;W

ikiped

ia.com

Page 7: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

Theplantsfeaturedinthisguideareabriefsummaryofmanycommonspeciesfoundinthewildandingardensthatareattractivetobees.Theyaresortedinitiallybybloomseasonandthenalphabeticallybytheircommonname.

Thisguideisdesignedtobeanidentificationtoolforanyoneinterestedinbees.Therearethreemainsections:1.beemimics,2.commonspeciesofbees,3.floweringplantsthatprovidebeeswithpollenandnectar.Inaddition,weincludeinformativesectionsaboutrecentbeedeclinesandwhatwecandotoconservethebees.Thebeespeciesaresortedintofamiliesandthenlistedbygenera.Thiswillhelptodistinguishthespeciesbytheiroftentimesminutedifferences.Photographsofeachspecieshavealsobeenincludedtoaidinidentification.

Sabine

Noo

ten

Megachile sp.onsmoothoxeye

Howtousethisguide

5

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Somebeespecies,suchasmembersofthegenusAugochlorella, areabrilliant,metallic,race-cargreen.Otherscomeinstrikingpatternsofred,yellow,andblack,suchasmanyofthecuckoobees.

Beebehavior

Beesexhibitawidevarietyofbehaviors andnestingstrategiesduetotheirvastdiversity.Oneofthemostunderstoodofallbeesisthenon-nativehoneybeeknownfortheircomplexsocialbehavior.Honeybeesareeusocial withonequeenandthousandsofworkersalllivinginasinglehive.

Thereareover20,000beesfoundworldwideandabout4,000ofthosespeciesarefoundinNorthAmerica.WithinNewEngland,thereareanestimated400beespecies.Thesebeesappearinavarietyofsizes,shapes,andcolors.ThelargestbeefoundinNewEnglandistheeasterncarpenterbee.

PatrickSchu

ltheiss

Agapostemonvirescens

Beebiology

6

Page 9: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

Uponhatching,thecleptoparasitic beelarvakillsthehostlarvaandfeedsuponitspollenball.Thesebeesarecalledcuckoobeesbecauselikethecuckoobird,adultssneaktheireggsinthenestsofotherspecies.

Incontrast,thevastmajorityofwildbeesaresolitary,inwhichasinglefemalebeeconstructsandprovisionsherownnestwithoutthehelpofotherbees.Therearesomebeesthatwillformlargecommunal aggregations,thatis,femaleswillcometogetherinoneareaandbuildtheirnestsincloseproximitytogether.Otherbeesformcooperativecolonies,muchlikehoneybees,completewithqueensandworkers.Thesecoloniesdonotgrownearlyaslargewithonlydozensofworkersatmost.Thesecolonieslastjustoneseasonbeginninginthespringandendinginthefallwhenthebeesdieoff.Thereareanumberofcleptoparasitic bees.Thesebeesdonotcollecttheirownpollennordotheycreatetheirownnest.Instead,theyenterthenestofanotherbeeandlaytheireggsinnestcells.

MollyJa

cobson

Nomada luteoloides,

acuckoobee

7

Page 10: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

Lifecycle

Beesareholometabolous insects,undergoingacompletemetamorphosis.Theyhavefourlifestages:egg,larva,pupa,andadult.Mostsolitarymotherbeesbuildasinglecell,provisionitwithaballmadeofpollenandnectar,layasingleeggonit,andsealthecell.Thisiscalledmassprovisioning.Theeggthenhatchesintoalarva,whichlooksmorelikeapalecaterpillarthanabee.Thelarvahasnoeyesorlegsandspendsitstimedevouringthepollenballandgrowing.Oncethethepollenballisconsumed,thelarvadefecates,molts,andentersthepupal stage.Pupaelooklikebeeshavingeyes,legsandbodysegments,gainingcolorationuntiltheymolt torevealtheirwingsasanadultbee.

CullenFranchino

Lifecycleofthesmallcarpenterbee(Ceratinacalcarata)

8

Page 11: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

Nesting

Beesexhibitarangeofdifferentnestingtypes,i.e.theybuildnestsintheground,rockcrevices,snailshells,plantstems,orinhardwoods.Mostbeesdigasimpleburrowintothegroundthatcontainsafewindividualcells,eachstockedwithpollenandasingleegg.Speciesmaybeattractedtocertainkindsofsoils;somepreferclaysoilsandotherswillonlybefoundneardunesandembankments.Thedepthofnestsdugintothegroundcanreachanywherefromafewinchestoafewfeetbelowthesurface.Otherbeesprefertonestinanexistingcrevice,e.g.bumblebeesnestinabandonedrodentholes,clumpsofgrass,andevencompostpilesoroldmattresses.Stems,rottinglogs,andburrowsmadebyotherinsectsareusedbysomebeespeciestobuildtheirnests.

MollyJa

cobson

GroundnestingbeeColletesvalidus

9

Sand

raReh

an

Crosssectionofbeenestintheground

Page 12: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

Osmiacornifrons (male)emergingfromstemnest

Smallcarpenterbeespreferdead,brokenstemsofsumacandraspberryasnestsites.Thesebeescannotchewthroughtheexteriorbarkofastemandrequireexposedpithfrompruning,mowing,burning,orgrazingtomakenestingsitesavailable.Femalestunnelinthepithystemsfromafewinchestoafewfeetlong.Largecarpenterbeesformtheirnestsbyboringintomanmadehardwoods.Inpre-colonialtimes,carpenterbeeslivedindeadlogsandtreetrunks.Otherstemnestingbeeswillfindandusepre-existingcavitiesmadebybeetlesandotherinsects.Masonorleaf-cutterbees,willthenlinethoseburrowswithbitsofleaves,flowerpetals,mud,orevendownyplantfibersinordertopartitiontheirnest.

10

CullenFranchino

Ceratinacalcarata

smallcarpenterbees

KatherineOdanaka

Page 13: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

Likesize,shapeisalsovariablerangingfromslendermaskedandminingbeestorobustbumble,carpenterandwoolcarderbees.Beescomeinmanydifferentcolors,fromredsandbrowns,metallicgreensandblues,toblackandyellow.Aneasywaytodistinguishawaspfromabeeisbytheamountofhairontheinsect’sbody.Beesaregenerallyquitehairy,howeversomebeesthatlackthedensehair,butallbeeshavebranchedhairsontheirbodies.Waspsaregenerallypredatorsfeedingtheiroffspringotherinsectsorspiderswhilebeestypicallyfeedonpollenandnectar.

Beeidentification

Beescomeinmanydifferentshapesandsizes.Beesrangefromlessthanaquartertoaboutaninchinsize.ThelargestspeciesfoundinNewEnglandarelargecarpenterbeesandqueenbumblebees,bothreachingaboutaninchlong.Manybeesaremuchsmaller,likethemetallicsweatbeesthatapproximatelyaquarterofaninchinlength.

MollyJa

cobson

Xylocopa virginica

11

Page 14: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

Beeanatomy

Likeallinsects,beeshavesixlegsandtheirbodiesaredividedintothreemainsections:head,thorax,andabdomen.Femalebeeshavebranchedhairsthataretypicallydenseonhindlegsandabdomen.Beeshavefourwingsandlongslenderantennae.Fliesonlyhavetwowingsandshorter,stubbyantennae.Waspsalsohavefourwingsandlongantenna,butaretypicallylesshairythanbees.

12

CullenFranchino

Ceratina calcarata

Foreleg

Head

Antennae

Forewing

HindWing

Abdomen

MidLegHindLeg

Thorax

Page 15: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

Floweringplants

BeesaregenerallythoughttohaveappearedonearthmillionsofyearsagoduringtheCretaceousperiod.Atthesametime,floweringplants,knownasAngiosperms,expandedwidelyinshape,formandsize.Thisgroupofplantswerethefirsttouseflowersforreproduction.Stamensproducepollenthatwhendepositedonthepistil,fertilizereproductivecellsthatdevelopintoseedsthatproducethenextgenerationofplants.Thissystemreliesonspreadingpollenbywind,waterormobileanimals-pollinators,thelatterbeingmoreefficient.

BeesandFlowers

JoshHall

Lilium sp.

Attractingpollinatorsiscostlyforplants.Flowersproducepollen,oils,andnectarasarewardforpollinationservices.Animalsfeedonthenectarandsimultaneouslydistributethepollencollectedfromotherplants.Insects,beesespecially,arethemostefficientandeffectivepollinators.

13

Page 16: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

Adultbeesfeedonnectar,whiletheiroffspringeatamixtureofnectarandpollen.Manybeeshavedevelopedspecializedmechanismsontheirlegsorabdomenscalledscopaeorcorbiculatocollectandstorepollen.Scopaearecomposedoflong,stiffhairsthathavemanyminisculebranchestoholdlargequantitiesofpollen.Formostspecies,thescopaareonthelegs,butsomespecieshavescopalocatedatthesidesandundersideoftheabdomen(right).Bumblebeesandhoneybeesdonothavescopae.Insteadtheyhavepollenbasketscalledcorbiculathatareflatareasontheirhindlegs(left).Bumblebeespackamixtureofpollenandnectarontotheircorbiculatotakebacktotheirnest.

Beesandplants

Sabine

Noo

ten

Sabine

Noo

ten

Bombussp.&Hoplitissp.onwildbergamot(Monarda fistulosa)

14

Page 17: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

Throughtheprocessofco-evolution,beesbecamethemostspecializedandeffectiveanimalpollinators.Beesdevelopedawidearrayofnectarfeedingandpollencarryingfeatures,whileflowersdevelopedmanydifferentshapesandsizestoattractpollinators.Mostbeesaregeneralists,meaningthattheyvisitanytypeofflowertheycangetnectarfrom.Whereasotherbeeshavebecomesospecializedthattheyonlyvisitoneorafewtypesofflowers.Thesebeesarefittinglycalledspecialists.Oneexampleisthesquashbee,Eucera pruinosa.Thisbeeissospecializedthatitisonlyfoundonplantsinthecucurbitfamily,e.g.squashesandmelons.Squashblossomsopenintheearlymorninghours.Malesquashbeesoftenspendthenightinsidetheclosedsquashflowerwaitingtomatewithfemalesarrivingearlyinthemorningtopollinatesquashflowers.

MollyJa

ckob

son

Eucera pruinosa

specialistsquashbee 15

PatrickSchu

ltheiss

Lasioglossumpilosum

(male)- generalist

Page 18: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

16

Sand

raReh

an

Toxomerus germinatus

Therearemanyotherinsectsthatarefrequentfloralvisitorsthat,likebees,feedonnectarandtransportpollen.Theseincludeflies,wasps,ants,beetlesandbutterflies.Someofthemlookremarkablylikebeesandtheyaredescribedinthefollowingpages.

Beemimics&otherpollinators

FlowerfliesSyrphidae

TheSyrphidae,orflowerflies,arefrequentvisitorstoflowerstocollectnectar.Syrphidsareoftenmistakenforbees.Manyofthemmimicbeeswiththeirdarkbandingandyellowcoloration.Theirtwowings,shortantennae,andlargeeyesdistinguishthemfromotherbeesandwasps.

Page 19: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

17

Sabine

Noo

ten

Philanthus gibbosus

HummingbirdMothSphingidae

Sandwasps,beewolves&others

MollyJa

cobson

Hemaris diffinis

Thesemothsaresometimesmistakenasbumblebeemimicsduetotheirsizeandcoloration.Theyareattractedtomanyflowers,includingblueberry,andareoftenseenhoveringinflight.

Diggerwasps(Crabronidae)arecloselyrelatedtobees.Mostlynestingintheground,thesewaspsprovisiontheirlarvaewithotherinsects,unlikebeesthatprovisionwithpollen.Preyitemswillvaryamongstthedifferentspecies,andsomeofthesewaspsevenhuntbees.

Page 20: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

18

Vespidwasps Vespidae

Thisgroupincludesthepaperwasps,yellowjacketsandhornets.ThesemembersoftheVespidaeareeusocialandhaveaqueen,likethehoneybee.Theseeusocialspeciescanbeaggressivewhenthecolonyisdisturbedandwaspsaremuchmorelikelytostingthanbees.Paperwaspscanbeseenscavengingorhuntingwherefoodispresentandarewidelymisidentifiedasbees.Theyareespeciallyattractedtopicnicsandoutdoorgatherings,inordertofindmeatprovisionsfortheirlarvae.Adultwaspsareomnivoresandcanalsocommonlybeseentakingnectarfromflowers.

MollyJa

cobson

Dolichovespula sp.

Wikiped

ia.org

Awaspnest

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19

TomM

urray;Bugguide.ne

t

Chauliognathus

pensylvanicus

BeeFlies Bombyliidae

SoldierbeetlesCantharidae

BobWeb

ster;B

ugguide.ne

t

Systoechus vulgaris

Beefliescanbefoundinspring,hoveringoverthegroundandnectaring atflowers.Theirhairybodiespickuppollen.Asbeefliesmoveamongflowers,theypollinatetheplants.Beefliesfiretheireggsintobeenestsandtheirlarvaeareparasitesofbees.

Commonlyfoundongoldenrodsduringthesummer,theseblackandorangebeetlesfeedonpollenandnectarasadults.Duetotheirfrequentpresence,theyareavidpollinatorsofflowers

Page 22: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

20

MollyJa

cobson

Laphria sp.

Robberflies Asilidae

LocustBorerCerambycidaeMegacyllene robiniae

Robberfliesarepredatory,largebodiedfliesandafewgeneracontainspeciesthatareexceptionalbumblebeemimics.Thepresenceofonlytwowings,shortantenna,largeeyes,andlongmouthpartssetsthesefliesapartfromthebeestheyimitate.

MJH

atfie

ld;stevenanz.com

Megacyllene robiniae

Adultsoftheselong-hornedbeetlesarecommonlyfoundongoldenrodinlatesummertakingnectarandpollenfromtheflowers.Duetotheircoloration,sometimestheyaremistakenforbees.TheirlarvaenestinthebarkofBlackLocustdeciduoustrees.

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21

Thereareanestimated400wildbeespeciesinNewEngland,anexhaustivelistwouldgobeyondthescopeofthisfieldguide.Inthefollowingwefocusonaselectionofthemostcommonlyencounteredspecies.Beesaregroupedbyfamilyandthenbygenus.Aparticularlycuriousgroupofbees– thecuckoobeesaredescribedattheendofthissection.

Commonbeespecies

AllmembersofthefamilyAndrenidae linetheirundergroundnestsinawaterproofsubstancetoreducemoistureandmold.Femalesmassprovisiontheiroffspringwithaballofpollenandnectaronwhichtheylayasingleegg.Uponhatching,larvaefeedonthepollenball,pupateandemergethatfallornextspring.

CullenFranchino

Andrenasp.

MiningbeesAndrenidaeAndrena

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22

ThegenusAndrena, commonlyreferredtoasminingbees,isoneofthemostdiverse,withover1400speciesworldwide,550intheUS,and90speciesinNewEngland.Miningbeesaresolitaryandnestinsimpleburrowstheydigintheground.Thedepthoftheburrowsrangebetweenafewinchestoseveralfeetdeep.ThereisonegenerationofAndrena peryear.Theemergingadultsofmostspeciesflyonlyforsixweeks.SomespeciescomeoutinsummerorfallwhileotherAndrena speciesareamongthefirstbeestoemergeintheearlyspring,sometimesoccurringevenwhensnowisstillpresentandflowersarejuststartingtobloom.

Miningbeescontinued

Miningbeescanbeeitherfloralgeneralistsorspecialists.ManyfruitcropsarepollinatedbygeneralistspringflyingAndrenaspecies,suchastheappleblossomontheright.

KatherineOdanaka

Appleblossom-Malus pumila

Page 25: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

Andrenawilkella isanintroducedlarge,commonbeefoundinnortheasternAmerica.Ithasablackbodyandthickyellowhaircoveringthebackofitshead,thorax,andlegswhichitusestogatherlargeamountsofpollen.Itsmostcommonlyfoundonintroducedcrownvetch.

23

Miningbeescontinued

MollyJa

cobson

Andrenacarlini

Rebe

ccaDe

w

Andrenawilkella

Andrenacarlini is alarge,darkspecies thatismostactiveinthelatespringandearlysummerandisabroadgeneralist.Ithasablackbodyandpaleyellowhairsonitsthorax.ThisbeeissimilartoA.vicina,butcanbedistinguishedbythesolidblackhaironitshindlegs.

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24

Andrenavicina isamediumsizedbee,commonthroughoutsouthernCanadaandnorthernUS.

ItismostcommonlymistakenforA.carlini, butisdistinguishedbyhavinglonger,denserandlighterthoracichair.

A.vicina actsasabroadgeneralistthroughoutthespringandsummerandcanbefoundpollinatingcropslikeappleandblueberry.

KatherineOdanaka

Andrenavicina

MiningbeescontinuedMollyJa

cobson

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25

Apismellifera, commonlyknownastheEuropeanhoneybee,wasintroducedtotheUSinthelate1600’s.Itiseusocialinnature,creatinglargecoloniesincavitiesandmanmadehiveswithasinglereproductivequeenandmanyworkersanddrones.Thisbeehasauniquecolorpattern:multiplebandsofdarkbrownandamberacrossitsabdomen,whileitsheadandthoraxareblack.Honeybeesareactivethroughouttheyearinareaswhereitiswarmenoughtosupportthem.Theentirecolonypersiststhroughthewinterunlikenativebeespecies.Honeybeeworkershaveauniquelybarbedstingerandcanonlystingoncedyingshortlythereafter.Thisspeciesisalsotheonlyoneknowntocausehumanallergicreactions.Honeybeesaregeneralistpollinatorsfeedingonmanydifferentflowers.TodatetheyarethemostmassproducedcommercialcroppollinatorworldwideandtheonlybeespeciesinAmericanorthofMexicothatmakeshoney. Cé

liaBo

rdier

Apis mellifera

HoneybeesApidaeApis

Page 28: Wild Bees of New England - rehanlab.com€¦ · Wild Bees of New England A guide to common pollinators & flowers By Katherine Odanaka, Josh Hall, Sabine Nooten ... bees found worldwide

laterintheseason.Theyareobservedforagingonlateseasonplants.Somebumblebeespeciesarecommerciallyusedtopollinatecrops,suchastomatoesandblue-berries,duetotheirabilitytobuzztheirflightmusclesatthefrequencyneededforpollentobereleasedbytheflower.

26

ThegenusBombus isthegroupcommonlyreferredtoasthebumblebees.Theyarelargebeesthataredenselycoveredinblack,yellowandoccasionallyorangehairs.Bumblebeescangenerateheatbyvibratingthemusclesthatcontroltheirwingswhichenablesthemtoflyincoldtemperatures.Becauseofthisability,bumblebeesarefoundfarthernorthandinhigherelevationsthanotherbees.Theyarealsoimportantpollinatorsofearlyspringcropsbecausetheywillflyincolderandwetterweatherthanmanagedhoneybees.Coloniesareestablishedbyqueensintheearlyspring,usuallyinabandonedrodentburrowsandcrevices.Smallerworkersareproducedinspring- summerwhilemalesarepresent

Sabine

Noo

ten

Bombussp.

BumblebeesApidaeBombus

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27

Thetwo-spottedbumblebee,Bombusbimaculatus,

isverycommonthroughouttheeasternUS.ItisactivefromMarchtoSeptember,itisthefirstbumblebeeoutinspringandactsasageneralistpollinatorforalargevarietyofplants.Thetwo-spottedbumblebeeisoftenmistakenforitscloserelatives,thecommoneasternbumblebee(B.impatiens) andthebrown-beltedbumblebee(B.griseocollis).Femalescanbedifferentiatedbytheirlongerfaceandthepresenceoftwoyellowpatchesontheabdomen;malesarehighlyvariableinpatterning,oftenwithextensiveyellowcoloration.

Bombus bimaculatus

Bumblebeescontinued

Sabine

Noo

ten

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28

MollyJa

cobson

Bombus griseocollis (male)

Thebrown-beltedbumblebeeB.griseocollis receivedthisnamefromabrownstripeacrosstheabdomenbelowthefirstyellowstripe.Thisdistinguishesitfromothersimilarspecies.Thisbumblebeeiscommoningardens.Thebrown-beltedbumblebeeiscommonacrossNorthAmericaandisactivefromFebruarytoAugust.Likeitsrelatives,itactsasaverybroadgeneralistpollinator,feedingonamultitudeofflowers.

MollyJa

cobson

Bumblebeescontinued

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29

Thecommoneasternbumblebee,B.impatiens,canbeidentifiedbythesingleyellowbandacrossitsabdomen.Asthenamesuggests,itisthemostpopulousbumblebeeintheeasternhalfofNorthAmerica.Thisbumblebeeisveryadaptable,allowingittoactasapollinatorformanyplants.Assuch,itisfrequentlyusedcommerciallyfortomatoesandotherbuzzpollinatedcrops.Coloniescanbepurchasedforfarmerstosupplementpollinationfortheircrops.B.impatiensisaspeciesincreasinginnumbersoverrecentyearsandisnotcompromisedbythemanydiseasesthoughttohavecontributedtothelocalextinctionoftherustypatchbumblebee,B.affinis.

Sabine

Noo

ten

Bombus impatiens

Bumblebeescontinued

KatherineOdanaka

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30

Theperplexingbumblebee,B.perplexus,canbefoundthroughoutnorthernNorthAmericabutisabsentinthesouthernstates.ThethreeyellowstripesacrosstheabdomenofthemalemakesthemappearmuchmoreyellowthanothercommonlyencounteredBombus species.ActivefromApriltoSeptember,thisbeecanbefoundaroundforests,orchards,andevensomebogs.Theperplexingbumblebeeisageneralistpollinatorandwillvisitmanydifferentkindsofplantsincludingblueberryandraspberry.

Bumblebeescontinued

MollyJa

cobson

Bombusperplexus

(male)

KatherineOdanaka

Blueberry(Vaccinium corymbosum)

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31

Thelargecarpenterbee,Xylocopavirginica, isthelargestNewEnglandbeespecies(~1inchlong).Itburrowsintomanmadewoodenstructures,butitdoesnotdigdeepandonlycausesstructuraldamageifaggregationsareimmense.Thisbeeisageneralistpollinator,feedingonmanyflowersduringsummer.Itisblackwiththick,yellowhairsonthethorax,andcanbemistakenasabumblebee.Thelargecarpenterbeecanbeidentifiedbyitsshinyblackandbroadabdomen.Males,whichhaveaivorysquareontheirface,exhibitaggressiveandterritorialbehavior towards

MollyJa

cobson

Xylocopa virginica

eachother.Theywillconfrontpresumedthreatsbyapproachingandflyingaroundtheintruderinanattempttochasethemaway.Malecarpenterbeeswillnotbiteandallmalebeesareincapableofstinging.Femaleshavesolidblackfacesandarecapableofstinging,butarenotaggressiveorterritorial.

LargecarpenterbeeApidaeXylocopa

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32

ThebeesinthegenusCeratina areknownasthesmallcarpenterbees.Theydigoutthesoftcenter -thepith- ofoldsticksandstemstocreatetheirnests.Raspberryandsumacaretheirpreferredplantstobuildnests.Smallcarpenterbeesbuildcellsalongthelengthofthestick,layingoneeggineachcellwithawallofwoodshavings,heldtogetherwithmandibularsecretionstomakeapaste,in-betweenthem.Theyaredarkcoloredwithametallicsheenandwaterbottleridgeshapedabdomen.Thesmallcarpenterbee,C.calcarata,iscommonthroughouttheeasternUS.Itisbluetoblue-greenwithaveryreflectivesurfaceandisactivefromearlyspringtolatefall.Malesandfemalesofthisspeciescanbeeasilydistinguished;themaleshaveasmallwhitepatchontheirfaceintheshapeofanupsidedownTandfemaleshaveasmalllineorspot.Asageneralist,thisbeeisvaluedforitsabilitytopollinateawidevarietyoffloweringplantsandcrops,suchasraspberry.

CullenFranchino

Ceratinacalcarata

SmallcarpenterbeeApidaeCeratina

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33

BeesinthegenusMelissodesarecommonlyreferredtoasthe“long-hornedbees”becauseofthelengthyantennaeofthemales.Manyofthebeesinthisgrouparespecialistpollinatorsthatfocusonlyononetypeofflower.Long-hornedbeesaresolitarily,groundnestingbees,andtheyareactivethroughoutthesummer.Thickhairsonthelegs,thoraxandheadarecommontoMelissodes.Thetwo-spottedlong-hornbeeM.bimaculata hasacompletelyblackbodyandveryhairyhindlegs.Thelegsarehairywithmostlypaleorwhitecoloration.

MollyJa

cobson

Melissodesbimaculata

Thisbeeisactivethroughoutthesummerandisageneralistpollinator.Thepollinationdonebytwo-spottedlong-hornbeecomplementsthatofthesquashbee,Eucera pruinosa, bothessentialtosummerbloomingcropslikemelonsandsquash.

Long-hornedbeesApidaeMelissodes

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34

Theorangesunflowerbee,Melissodestrinodis,

isamediumsizedbeewithvibrantyellow-orangecoloredhairsonablackbody.Thedensehairsthicklycoveringthelegs,head,andthoraxareconsistentwithothermembersofthegenus.Thesparselaterallinesacrosstheabdomen,givesthisbeeastripedappearance.

MollyJa

cobson

Melissodestrinodis

Anne

Ewert

Helianthusannuus

ThemainsourceofpollenforthisspeciesisthegenusHelianthus,morecommonlyknownassunflowers.Althoughtheyaregeneralistspollinators,iftherearesunflowersintheareatheyarestronglyattractedtothem.

Longhornedbeescontinued

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Theeasterncucurbit(orsquash)bee,Eucerapruinosa, iscommonthroughoutthesummerandearlyfallthroughouttheUnitedStatesandsouthtoMexico.Thismediumsized,blackbeehasthickyellowhairsandwhitestripesontheabdomen.Itisaspecialistpollinatorforplantsinthegourdfamily(Cucurbitaceae)whichincludesmanypopularvegetableslikesquash,pumpkins,zucchiniandsomemelons.Femalesquashbeesdigburrowstonestneartheseplants.Malesarecommonlyfoundsleepingintheflowersingroups.

MollyJa

cobson

Eucera pruinosa

SquashbeesApidaeEucera (formerly Peponapis)

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36

Thecommonnameofcellophanebeescomesfromawaterproofliquidsecretionthatmembersofthisgenususetolinethewallsoftheirburrows.Whendriedthisliquidresemblesthecrinkly,waxylookofcellophane.Thecellophanebeesaremediumtolargesizedground-nestingbeesandareoneofthefirstbeestoemergeinearlyspring.CellophanebeesofthegenusColletes arehairy,muchlikeAndrena species.Bycontrast,Hylaeuscellophanebeesarealmosthairlessandhaveawasp-likeappearance.

CellophanebeesColletidaeColletes

Sabine

Noo

ten

Colletessp.

Cellophanebeesaresolitarynesters,butsomeColletes specieshaveapreferencetonestinsandysoilswhichoftenresultsinlargeaggregations.

Mostspeciesarefoundinavarietyofsoiltypesanddonotformaggregations.

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Cellophanebeescontinued

Colletesinaequalis

MollyJa

cobson

ThecellophanebeeColletesinaequalisisacommonground-dwellingbeethatemergesearlyinspring.Becausethisbeeisafloralgeneralistandappearsveryearlyintheseason,itvisitsearlyspringbloomingflowersandtrees.C.inaequalisarecommoninappleandblueberryorchards.

KatherineOdanaka

Appleorchard

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38

Theblueberrycellophanebee,Colletesvalidus,isamedium-sizedbeewithafacethatischaracteristicallylongerthanwide.Ithasablackbodywithlateralstripesofwhitehairsrunningacrosstheabdomenandpaleyellowhairscoveringitsthorax.ItisthoughttobeaspecialistonthecommerciallygrownnorthernhighbushblueberryVacciniumcorymbosum.

MollyJacobson

Colletesvalidus

CellophanebeescontinuedKatherineOdanaka

Vaccinium corymbosum

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39

Maskedbeesalsoproducecellophanetolinetheirnests,butaremuchsmallerandmostlyhairless.Theyliveinpre-existingholesandaresolitary.Insteadofcarryingpollenonbranchedhairslikemostbees,Hyaleus beesstorepolleninternallyintheircrop,asimilarstructuretoourstomach.Theyeatthepollenandthenregurgitateitwhenneeded.Becauseoftheirsmallsizeandhairlessbodies,theycanbemistakenforwasps.ThecommonlyfoundyellowfacedmaskedbeeHylaeus modestus isasmallblackbeewithvibrantyellowpatchesonthehead,thorax,andlegs.

MollyJa

cobson

Hylaeus modestus

Theyellowfacedmaskedbeeisabroadfloralgeneralist,activefromMaytoSeptemberandcanbefoundthroughouteasternNorthAmerica.

MaskedbeesColletidaeHyaleus

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40

Thebandedsweatbeesarenamedduetothewhitebandsontheirabdomensandtheirattractiontohumanperspiration.Itisthoughtthattheyusethesaltfornutrition.MembersofthegenusHalictus arewide-spreadacrosstheNorthernHemisphere.Theyaresomeofthemostcommonbeesinanygivenarea,makingthemimportantpollinatorsoffloweringplants.MostHalictus speciesareeusocial,withqueensandworkers,formingcoloniesinundergroundburrows,similartobumblebees.Colonieshaveavaryinsize,commonly10-20beesandupto200individuals.

MollyJa

cobson

Halictus ligatus onoxeyedaisy(Leucanthemum vulgare)

BandedsweatbeesHalictidaeHalictus

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41

MollyJa

cobson

Halictusconfusus

Sabine

Noo

ten

Halictus ligatus

ThesweatbeeHalictusligatusismediumsized(0.3inches)andblackwithlightcoloredhairsonthethorax.Whitebandsstretchacrosstheabdomen.Thisbeehasalargehead.Thiseusocial,generalistbeepreferscompositeflowersandiswidespreadacrossNorthAmericaincludingMexico.

Thesouthernbronzefurrowbee,Halictusconfusus,issmallanddullgreenwithboldwhitebandsonitsabdomen.Thisbeeisabroadgeneralistpollinatorthatformssocialcoloniesingroundburrows.ItcanbefoundinNewEnglandduringspringandsummermonths.

Bandedsweatbeescontinued

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MollyJa

cobson

Halictus rubicundus

Bandedsweatbeescontinued

ThesweatbeeHalictusrubicundusisamedium-sizedbeewithablackbodywithbandsofhairontheirabdomenthatappearaswhitestripes.ItcanbedistinguishedfromH.ligatusbythelackofthetriangularshapedpointed,spine-likeprojectatthebaseofitscheekandmuchnarrowerhead.Thissweatbeehasaworldwidedistributionandcanbefoundonmultiplecontinents,includingNorthAmerica,Europe,andAsia.Itisactivefromearlyspringtolatesummerandactsasageneralistpollinator.Likeothersinthisgroup,itiseusocialandlivesinsmallcoloniesinnestsbeneaththesoil.

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ThegeneraAgapostemon,Augochloropsis,

Augochlorella,andAugochlora arecommonlygroupedtogetherandcalledthegreensweatbees.Thesevibrantlycolored,race-cargreenspeciescanlookverysimilar.Thefemalesofallgeneraareentirelygreen,exceptforthebicoloredstripedsweatbee,Agapostemonvirescens.

Agapostemonvirescensisamediumsized,metallic,greenbeethatiscommonacrosssouthernCanadaandthenorthernUS.Thisspeciesnestscommunallywithuptotwodozenfemalessharinganestentrance,buteachindividualbuildsandprovisionsit’sownbroodcells.

DifferentfromotherAgapostemon species,malebicoloredstripedsweatbeeshavebeenfoundtonestwithfemales.GreensweatbeesarebroadgeneralistpollinatorsactivethroughoutthewarmseasonfromMaytoOctober.

Sand

raReh

an

Agapostemonvirescens

GreensweatbeesHalictidaeAgapostemon&similar

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BothA.sericeus andA.texanus aremediumsizedbeeswithallgreenfemalesandmaleswithgreenheadsandthoracesandstripedabdomensthathavetheappearanceoffemaleA.virescens.Thehuesofgreencanbemoreyellowormorebluedependingonthelocationoftheindividual.A.sericus islesscommoninNewEnglandthanA.texanus.A.sericus isknowntonestinthegroundwheremultiplefemalesshareasingleentrance.Insidethenest,eachfemalehastheirowncellwheretheystockfoodandtakecareoftheiryoung.

SteveNanz;steven

anz.com

Agapostemon sericeus

MollyJa

cobson

Agapostemontexanus

44

Greensweatbeescontinued

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Célia

Bordier

Augochlora pura

ThegreensweatbeeAugochlora pura isasmall,shinybeeoftenfoundinwoodedareaswhereitnestsinpre-existingcavitiesinrottingwood.Interestingly,whilenormallygreen,therehavebeenindividualsfoundwithdeepblueandbrightyellowovertones.Thesebeesnestsolitarily,butdependingonnestingresourceavailability,femalesmaynestincloseproximity.Somenestshaveevenbeenfoundtowindbetweeneachother.Asageneralist,thisgreensweatbeepollinatesawidevarietyofflowersduringspringandsummerseason.Itisacommonvisitortogardens.

Greensweatbeescontinued

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ThemediumsizedbrilliantgreenbeeAugochloropsis metallica

isfoundacrossNorthAmerica.Thisgeneralistpollinatornestsinthegroundandisactiveduringsummer.Itcanbedistinguishedfromothergreensweatbeesbyits‘D’shapedtegula (wingattachmentcover).

MollyJa

cobson

Augochloropsis metallica

Célia

Bordier

Augochlorellaaurata

Augochlorella aurata isasmallmetallicgreenbee,sometimeswithblue,yellow,orcopperhues.ThisgeneralistpollinatorisfoundfromtheRockyMountainstotheeasterncoastbetweenMaytoOctober.Theyprimarilynestsocially,butoccasionallysolitarilyincoolerclimates.

Greensweatbeescontinued

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47

Lasioglossum isoneofthemostwidespreadandnumerousgenerainNorthAmericaandcanbefoundfromspringthroughlatefall.Thereareroughly300speciesinNorthAmericaand100speciesinNewEngland.Theyrangefromatenthtohalfaninchinsize.Membersinthisgenusrangeincolorfromblackanddulltogreenandmetallicspecies.Manyappearsimilarincolorandshapeandarechallengingtotellapart- evenforexperts.WhilemanyspeciesofLasioglossum aresolitary,somearesocialandformeusocialcolonies.

MollyJa

cobson

Lasioglossumtegulare

Célia

Bordier

SmalldarksweatbeesHalictidaeLasioglossum

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Thesmall,darksweatbeeLasioglossumpilosum isaverycommonbee.Thisgoldengreenbeeissmallinsizeandhasdensewoollyhairscoveringmostofitsbody.ItisfoundthroughouteasternNorthAmericabetweenMarchandOctober.Asabroadgeneralistpollinator,ithasbeenrecordedvisitingover80differentfloweringplantspecies.Itnestsinthesoil.

48

TomM

urray;Bugguide.ne

t

Lasioglossumpilosum

Smalldarksweatbeescontinued

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BeesinthegenusAnthidium arealsoknownaswoolcarderbees.Thenamederivedfromthefemale’sabilitytousetheirlarge,sharpjawstogathersoftplantfiberstoinsulatetheirnests.AllspeciesinNewEnglandandnon-native.AparticularlystrikingbehaviorthatsetsAnthidiumapartfromotherbeesisthatmalesterritoriallydefendapatchofflowers.Becauseoftheiraggressivenature,malesareknowntokillotherbeesthathappentowanderintotheirterritory.Mostwoolcarderbeespeciescanberecognisedbytheirdistinctyellowandblackcolorationsandbrightlycoloredeyes.Despitethiscolorationtheyshouldnobeconfusedwithwasps–seephotobelowforcomparison.

MollyJa

cobson

Anthidiummanicatum

(bee)Philanthus ventilabris

(wasp)

WoolcarderbeesMegachilidaeAnthidium

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MollyJa

cobson

Anthidiummanicatum

TheEuropeanwoolcarderbee,Anthidium

manicatum,isamediumsizedbeewithblackandyellowcoloration.ItwasintroducedtotheUSfromEuropeinthe1960’sandquicklycolonizedthecontinent.Thisbeere-usesoldnestingsitesandcavities,makingiteasytospread.

Woolcarderbeescontinued

Theoblongwoolcarderbee,Anthidium

oblongatum,isblackwithyellowbandsalongitsheadandabdomen.TheyaregenerallysmallerthanA.manicatum.OriginallyfromEurope,itisfoundthroughouttheeasternUSduringsummerandautumn.Thisbeeisattractedtobird’sfoottrefoil,Lotuscorniculatus.

MollyJa

cobson

Anthidiumoblongatum

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51

ThegenusMegachile arecommonlyknownasleaf-cutterbees.Femalebeeschewoffpiecesofleavesandpetalstoincorporateintotheirnests.Unlikemanybees,femaleswilloftenmakemultiplenests.Thesebeesnestreadilyinpre-existingcavitiesandcanbeattractedtogardensbyinstallingbeehotels.TheyemergeearlyinspringandareactivethroughSeptember.Usuallygeneralistpollinatorssomeareextremespecialists,suchasM.pugnata thatusessunflowersandrelatedspecies.Thealfalfaleaf-cutterbeeMegachilerotundata,animportantcroppollinatorfore.g.alfalfaandcarrots.Thisbeeisthesmallestmemberofitsgroup.OriginallyfromEuropeandnotnativetoNorthAmerica,itisnowquitecommonandnaturalizedinmanypartsoftheworld.

MollyJa

cobson

Megachile rotundata

Leaf-cutterbeesMegachilidaeMegachile

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Megachileinimica sayi isasubspeciesofthemorewidespread‘hostileleaf-cutterbee’,M.inimica.

NativetonortheasternUS,thisbeeisastrongspecialistonplantsfromthefamilyAsteraceae,includingsunflowers.Itdiffersinlegcolor(black)fromitssouthernrelativethatextendsitsrangeintoSouthAmerica.

MollyJa

cobson

Megachile inimica sayi

MollyJa

cobson

Megachile mendica

Megachile mendica isamedium-sized,blackbeewithwhitehairsonitshead,thorax,andabdomen,forminglateralbandsonthelatter.ItisperhapstomostcommonnativeMegachile species.Itnestsinthesoilandcanbefoundduringsummerandautumn.Thisspeciesusesleaforflowerclippingstolineitsnests.

Leaf-cutterbeescontinued

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BeesinthegenusOsmia areknownasmasonbeesbecausetheyusemudandothersimilarsubstancesinnestconstruction.Theyaresmalltomediumsizedwitharobustbuild.Usuallyemergingintheearlyspring,theybuildsolitarynestsinpre-existingundergroundburrows,crevassesinwood,stone,concrete,andknowntooccupyoldsnailshells.Somemason bees,liketheblueorchardbee(Osmia

lignaria)andthehorn-facedbee(O.cornifrons),areusedcommerciallyintheagriculturalsectoraspollinatorstoenhanceproductionoffruitsandnuts.

KatherineOdanaka

Osmia lignaria

MasonbeesMegachilidaeOsmia

Sabine

Noo

ten

Osmiacornifrons

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54

TheblueorchardbeeOsmialignaria isanativespeciesofOsmia.Thismediumsizedbeeisrecognizedbyitsmetallicbluecolorandamixofblackandwhitehairsonthebody.ItisageneralistthroughoutNorthAmericathatoccursinspringandusuallydiesoffbytheendofJune.

MollyJa

cobson

Osmia lignaria

Thehorn-facedbee,O. cornifrons,originallycamefromJapanandwasintroducedinthelate1970’sastoenhancecroppollination.Thisbeehasadarkbodylooselycoveredwithlongredbrowntopalehair.Femalescanberecognizedbyhornlikeprotrusionsonthelowerendoftheirface.

MollyJa

cobson

Osmiacornifrons

Masonbeescontinued

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CullenFranchino

Hoplitisproducta

ThemasonbeegenusHoplitisisasmalltomediumsizedbeevaryinginsizefromaquartertohalfaninch.TheyaresmalleranddarkerincolorationthanOsmia.Likeothermasonbeestheyalsouseamixofsubstratestomakemudpartitionsfornestconstructionortowraptheireggsinaprotectiveenvelope.InterestinglyHoplitis havebeenobservedinnestsbuiltinstemsbysmallcarpenterbees,genusCeratina.Todate,onecanonlyspeculateiftheyco-inhabitorusurpedthenest.Hoplitisbeesareknowntoreturntothesamenesttheywerebornintomaketheirownnests.

MollyJa

cobson

Hoplitits sp.

MasonbeesMegachilidaeHoplitis

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56

Althoughmostbeesvisitflowerstocollectpollentoprovisionnestcells,thereareafewgenerawhodonot.Instead,thesethievesrelyonthepollencollectinglabor ofotherbees.Calledcleptoparasites,orcuckoobees,thesebeesbehavesimilarlytocuckoobirds,whichlayeggsinthenestsofotherbirdsandforcetheotherbirdtocareforthecuckoobirdoffspring.Cleptoparasitism inbeeshasevolvedatleast27times,eachinadifferentlineageandthislifestyleisfoundacrossthedifferentbeefamilies.Manyofthecuckoobeescomeinstrikingpatternsofredsandyellowsgivingthemaverywaspishlook.Cuckoobeesaremostfrequentlyencounteredhoveringnearthegroundornectaring atflowers.

MollyJa

cobson

Nomada sp.

Cuckoobees parasiticbees

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Thereareanestimated300speciesofNomadaintheUS.MostofthemparasitizethenestsofAndrena,althoughtherearerecordsofthemusingothergeneraincludingAgapostemonaswell.

MollyJa

cobson

Nomada sp.

Cuckoobees ApidaeNomada

TheNomada areamongthemostcommonlyencounteredofthecuckoobees.Thesebeesaregenerallyhairlessandcomeinavastarrayofredsandyellows.IntheUS,theyaretheonlybeeobservedtobeentirelyredincolor.

©Ch

arleyEiseman;w

ww.charle

yeise

man.com

Nomadasp.

Large aggregationsofAndrena willattractfemaleandmaleNomada. Theycanbeseenhoveringinandnearhostnestsites.

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MollyJa

cobson

Nomada luteoloides

LikemostNomada,N.luteoloides isdarkbrownandyellowincolor.ItisfoundintheeasternhalfoftheUnitedStatesuptotheHudsonBay.Throughoutthespringfemalescanbeseenhoveringalongthegroundsearchingforhostnestswhilemalesarecommonlyseennectaring atflowers.

Cuckoobees ApidaeNomada andHolcopasites

Holcopasites isastrikinggenusofparasiticbeefromthefamilyApidae.Theyhaveredabdomensandablackthoraxwitharoughtexture.Onlyaboutaquarterinchinlength,theyareoftenoverlooked.ThereisonlyonespeciesinNewEnglandanditparasitisesthenestsoftheCalliopsis,andrenid bees.

MollyJa

cobson

Holcopasites calliopsidis

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Triepeolus isanothergenusofparasiticbee.Theyhavebodieswithdistinctivewhitehairpatterns,blackorbrightredlegsandlargebodiesthatmakesthemeasytoidentify.TheyarestrikinglysimilarincolorationandappearancetofellowcleptoparasiticgenusEpeolus.Triepeolus isanestparasiteofsweatbees,Nomia

andDieunomia,andeucerine bees,includingmembersofthegenusMelissodes.Thesebeesarefoundduringthesummerandfallmonthsnectaringatavarietyofdifferentflowers.

MollyJa

cobson

Triepeolus nr.donatus

CuckoobeesApidaeTriepeolus

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60

ThegenusSphecodes isanothertypeofcuckoobee.Themembersofthisgenusparasitizeothersweatbeespecies,suchasthesmalldarkLasioglossum

sweatbees.TheyhavebeenobservedparasitizingspeciesofothergeneraincludingtheminingbeesAndrenaandCalliopsis,andColletes cellophanebees.SomespeciesofSphecodes aresocialparasites.Theparasiticfemalesremaininthenestwiththehost.Littleresearchhasbeendoneonthesebees,andmuchoftheirbiologyisstillamystery.

Sabine

Noo

ten

Sphecodes sp.

CuckoobeesHalictidaeSphecodes

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61

Coelioxys isagenusofparasiticbeesthatcanbeidentifiedbytheirextremelypointedabdomen.Thesebeesareusuallyblackwithwhitestripesontheabdomenandsomespecieshaveredlegsandcolorfuleyes.TheyarefoundthroughoutNorthAmerica.ThemostcommonhostsofthisgenusaretheMegachileleaf-cutterbees,buttheyhavealsobeenknowntoparasitizeAnthophora nests.Theirparasitichatchlingsusepowerfuljawstoattackahosteggorlarvaandcutitinhalf.

MollyJa

cobson

Coelioxys octodentatus

CuckoobeesMegachilidaeCoelioxys

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Flowersprovideallofthefoodbeesneedtosurvive.Beesobtainproteinfrompollenandsugarfromfloralnectar.Havingadiversityandabundanceofflowersinbloomfromearlyspringthroughautumnisnecessarytoprovideadequatenutritionforbeestofeedthemselvesandtheiroffspring,inadditiontoprovidingnestingsubstrateforsomebeespecies.Inthefollowingpageswehighlightsomenativeandnon-nativeherbaceousflowersthatsupportbeeslocally.Plantingnativespeciesisrecommended,butweincludecommonflowersandmanynon-nativesthatarewellestablishedinNewEngland.Thesearesortedbyseasonalbloomtimeandthenlistedalphabeticallybasedonthecommonname.

62

Sabine

Noo

ten

Floweringplantsforbees

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MollyJa

cobson

Flowertype:Aradialwhiteflowerwith8-12petalsandyellowcenter

Flower diameter:

~1.25”

Foliage:

Asingleleafandfloweroneachstem,leavesbasalsimpleorlobed

Height: 12-14”

Location:Woodlands

Growthconditions:● Sun- shadeto

partshade● Soil- loam● Moisture-

moist

SpringBloomingPlants

BloodrootSanguinaria canadensis

Beeforagers:CuckoobeesMiningbeesSweatbees

NativetoNewEngland

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64

Flowertype:Large,flatclustersofvibrantorangeflowerswithfiveuprightpetalsandfivedownwardfacingpetals

Flowerdiameter:~0.5”

Foliage:Lance-shapedleavesthatgrowfrom2-5”alongslender,hairystems

Height:1-3’

Location:Fields

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- sandy● Moisture– dry

SpringBloomingPlants

Butterflyweed Asclepias tuberosa

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesCuckoobeesGreenbeesLeaf-cutterbeesMiningbeesResinbeesSweatbees

Sabine

Noo

ten

NativetoNewEngland

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SpringBloomingPlants

Carolinaspring-beautyClaytoniacaroliniana

65

Flowertype:Fivepalepinkorwhitepetals

Flowerdiameter:~0.50”

Foliage:singlepairofopposite,simpleleaves

Height:4-12”

Location:Floodplain,forestedges,forests

Growthconditions:● Sun– partshade● Soil- any● Moisture-

medium

Samue

lFreli;W

ikiped

ia.org

Beeforagers:CuckoobeesGroundbeesMiningbeesSmallcarpenterbeesSweatbees

NativetoNewEngland

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66

Flowertype:Compositeflowerhead,brightyellow

Flowerdiameter:~1.5”

Foliage:Leavesgrowbasally,longerthanwide,toothedorlobed

Height:4-12”

Location:disturbedareas,fieldsandmeadows,abundantweed

Growthconditions:● Sun- shadetofull

sun● Soil- sand,loam,

clay● Moisture- medium

Célia

Bordier

SpringBloomingPlants

CommondandelionTaraxacumofficinale

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesHoneybeesMiningbeesSweatbees

Non-native

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67

Célia

Bordier

Flowertype:White,five-petaledflowerssurroundingadensegroupofyellowstamens

Flowerdiameter:~0.75”

Foliage:Leavesdividedin3leaflets,coarselytoothed,plantsgrowfromstemsrisingfromrunnersalongtheground

Height:4-8”

Location:Dry,openspaces,forestedges

Growthconditions:● Sun- partshade

tofullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- dry

SpringBloomingPlants

CommonstrawberryFragariavirginiana

Beeforagers:CarpenterbeesCuckoobeesMasonbeesMiningbeesSweatbees

NativetoNewEngland

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70

Flowertype:Lightpurple,fivepetaledflowersthatgrowinsmallclustersfromasinglestem

Flowerdiameter:~0.75”

Foliage:Slenderbutsturdystemslinedwith3”long,oval-shapedleavesandforminginlargegroupsontheforestfloor

Height: 6-10”

Location:Woodlands

MollyJa

cobson

SpringBloomingPlants

CreepingphloxPhlox stolonifera

Beeforagers:Beeswithlongtonguesincluding-Bumblebees-Leafcutters-Masonbees

Growthconditions:● Sun- shadeto

partsun● Soil- any● Moisture-

mediumtomoist

NativetoNewEngland

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Sabine

Noo

ten

Flowertype:Denseclustersofbrightyellowflowers

Flowerdiameter:~0.5”

Foliage:Coarselytoothedbasalleaveswithalargelobeattheend,upperleavesegg-shaped

Height: 1-2’

Location:Roadsidesandmeadows,common

Growthconditions:● Sun- shade

tofullsun● Soil- any● Moisture-

medium

SpringBloomingPlants

GardenyellowrocketBarbarea vulgaris

Beeforagers:CellophanebeesCuckoobeesHoneybeesMiningbeesSweatbees

Non-native

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Height:1-2’

Location:Prairie,meadow,openwoodlands,pastures

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- sand,loam● Moisture- any

level

FanWen

;Wikiped

ia.org

SpringBloomingPlants

LanceleafcoreopsisCoreopsis lanceolata

Flowertype:Rayanddiskflowers;rayflowershavefourlobesattips

Flowerdiameter:~1-2”

Foliage:Multipleerectstems;opposite,sessile,linearoblongleaves

NativetoNewEngland

Beeforagers:BumblebeesHoneybeesLong-hornedbees

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Flowertype:Blue-purplepeaflowersindense6-18”cone-shapedterminalclusters

Flowerdiameter:~1”

Foliage:Long,sturdystemwithlong-stalkedcompoundleaveswith12-18oblongleafletsradiatingfromacentralpoint

Height:2-4’

Location:Fieldsandroadsides

Growthconditions:● Sun- partshade

tofullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- any

level

71

DustyDu

rant

SpringBloomingPlants

Large-leavedlupineLupinus polyphyllus

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesSweatbeesMasonbeesLeaf-cutterbees

NativetoNewEngland

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72

Sabine

Noo

ten

Flowertype:Largecompositeflowerwithreddishpurpleraysandanorange-reddisk

Flowerdiameter:~2-4”

Foliage: Erectstem,lowerleavestoothedandegg-shapedonlongstalks

Height: 1-4’

Location: Openforestsandprairies

Growthconditions:● Sun- partto

fullsun● Soil- sand● Moisture-

dry

SpringBloomingPlants

PurpleConeflowerEchinaceapurpurea

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesDiggerbeesLeaf-cutterbeesLong-hornedbeesMiningbeesSweatbees

NativetoNewEngland

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73

Célia

Bordier

Flowertype:Whitetopaleblueflowerswithfourfusedpetalssurroundingayellowcenter

Flowerdiameter:~0.5”

Foliage:slenderstem,leavesatbaseoblongintufts,atstemtinyandopposite

Height:2-8”

Location:Grassymeadows,fields,andopenwoods

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- any● Moisture– moist

SpringBloomingPlants

QuakerladyHoustonia caerulea

BeeForagers:Sweatbees

NativetoNewEngland

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74

Sabine

Noo

ten

Flowertype:Dense,flatclustersofwhiteflowers

Flowerdiameter:~0.5”

Foliage: Leavesentire,largeshrubwithred-coloredyoungbranches

Height:6-12’

Location: Wetplaces,marshesandshorelines

SpringBloomingPlants

Red-osierdogwoodCornus sericea

Growthconditions:● Sun- partshade● Soil- any● Moisture- moist

Beeforagers:Miningbees(specialists)Andrenafragilis

Andrenaintegra

Andrenaperisimulata

Andrenaplatyparia

NativetoNewEngland

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75

Flowertype:Sparseclustersoffive-petaled,purpleflowersontheapicesofstems

Flowerdiameter:~1.25”

Foliage: Leavesdeeplydividedintotoothedlobesonslenderstems

Height:1-3’

Location:Woodlandedgesandmoistmeadows

Growthconditions:● Sun- shadeto

partshade● Soil- any● Moisture- moist

MollyJa

cobson

SpringBloomingPlants

SpottedgeraniumGeranium maculatum

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesCuckoobeesMasonbeesMiningbeesSweatbees&aspecialistbee=Andrenadistans

NativetoNewEngland

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76

Sabine

Noo

ten

Flowertype:Small,long-stalkedclustersofyellowflowerswithfivepetals

Flowerdiameter:~0.5”

Foliage:Leavesdividedin3s,similartoclover,longslenderstems,branchingvariablyandmostlyupright

Height:3-15”

Location:Fields,meadows,andopenwoodlands

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- dry

SpringBloomingPlants

Yellowwoodsorrel Oxalisstricta

Beeforagers:CarpenterbeesSweatbees

NativetoNewEngland

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77

Sabine

Noo

ten

Flowertype:Brightyellowpeaflowersinterminalumbels

Flowerdiameter:~0.5”

Foliage:Slenderstemswithcompoundleaves,3pointyleafletsatthetopand2atthebase

Height:2-20”

Location:Fieldsandroadsides

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- any

level

SummerBloomingPlants

Bird’sfoottrefoilLotuscorniculatus

Beeforagers:BumblebeesLeaf-cutterbeesMasonbeesMiningbeesSweatbeesAnthidiumoblongatum

(specialist)

Non-native

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78

Flowertype:Narrowspikeswithsmalltubularpurpleflowers

Flowerdiameter:~0.25”

Foliage:Squarestemswithopposite,simpleleaves

Height:2-5’

Location:Meadows,woods,prairies,ditches,andpastures

Growthconditions:● Sun– fullor

partialsun● Soil- sand● Moisture- moist

CodyHou

gh;W

ikiped

ia.org

SummerBloomingPlants

BluevervainVerbana hastata

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesCuckoobeesMaskedbeesMiningbeesSweatbees NativetoNewEngland

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79

Flowertype:Clustersoffive-petaled,brightyellowflowerswithspotsonthemargins

Flowerdiameter:~0.25”

Foliage:simple,oppositeleaves;0.75-1.5’ling

Height:6-20’

Location:riverandlakeshores,swamps,wetlandmargins

Robe

rtH.M

ohlenb

rock;W

ikiped

ia.org

SummerBloomingPlants

CanadianSt.John’swortHypericumcanadense

Growthconditions:● Sun- sun● Soil- wet● Moisture- moist

Beeforagers:BumblebeesSweatbees NativetoNewEngland

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80

Sabine

Noo

ten

Flowertype:Dense,sphericalclustersofpinktopurpleflowerswithfiveupwardandfivedownwardfacingpetals

Flowerdiameter: ~0.25”

Foliage:Thick,hairystemswithlarge,short-stalkedleavesthatreleaseathickwhitesubstancewhenbroken

Height:2-6’

Location:Fieldsandroadsides

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- moist

SummerBloomingPlants

CommonmilkweedAsclepias syriaca

Beeforagers:BumblebeesMiningbeesSweatbees

NativetoNewEngland

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81

DustyDu

rant

Flowertype:Terminalheadsofsmall,dense,brightred-pinkflorets,moreelongatethanotherclover

Flowerdiameter:~0.5”~2”height

Foliage:Leavestrifoliate,leafletshairywithbilobedapexalonguprightslenderstems

Height:10-20”

Location:Forestedges,fields,androadsides

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- moist

SummerBloomingPlants

CrimsoncloverTrifoliumincarnatum

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesHoneybeesMasonbeesMiningbeesSweatbees

Non-native

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Flowertype:Tightgroupofpinktopurplefloretsattheapex

Flowerdiameter:1-2”

Foliage:Anerect,hairystemwithmanyspinedwings,leaveslong,alternate,deeplylobed;leavesgreenontopandwhiteunderneath

Height:2-7’

Location:Colonizesmoisttodrysoils;pastures,oldfields,roadsides,forestedge

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- any

level

GeorgeFM

ayfie

ld;W

ikiped

ia.org

SummerBloomingPlants

FieldthistleCirsiumdiscolor

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesLeaf-cutterbeesMaskedbeesMiningbeesSweatbees

NativetoNewEngland

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83

Flowertype:Deep,tubular,whiteflowersmadeoftwolips

Flowerdiameter:~0.5”~1.25”length

Foliage:Slenderstemswithlongtaperingleaves,ellipticleavesatbase

Height:3-5’

Location:Meadows,fields,andforestedges

Growthconditions:● Sun- parttofull

sun● Soil- sandand

loam● Moisture- any

level

Sabine

Noo

ten

SummerBloomingPlants

FoxglovebeardtonguePenstemondigitalis

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesDiggerbeesLeaf-cutterbeesMasonbeesSweatbeesWool-carderbees

NativetoNewEngland

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84

Wikiped

ia.org

Flowertype:Dense,small,whiteflowers;two-lippedpetals

Flowerdiameter:~.75”

Foliage:Narrow,opposite,simpleleaves;Leaves2.5”long

Height:3’

Location:Meadows,forestedges,anddisturbedhabitats

Growthconditions:● Sun- partialto

fullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- all

SummerBloomingPlants

MountainmintPycnanthemum virginianum

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCuckoobeesMasonbeesMiningbeesSweatbeesNativetoNewEngland

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Flowertype:Flatyellowflowerwithfiveovaltoheart-shapedpetals

Flowerdiameter:~0.5”

Foliage:Alternateandcompoundleaves;leaflets~3”long

Height:1-3’

Location:fields,roadsides,wasteareas,disturbedsoil

Growthconditions:● Sun- parttofull

sun● Soil- loam● Moisture-

medium

JasonHo

llinger;W

ikiped

ia.org

SummerBloomingPlants

RoughcinquefoilPotentillanorvegica

Beeforagers:BumblebeesMaskedbeesSweatbees

NativetoNewEngland

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86

Forestand

Kim

Starr;W

ikipeida.org

Flowertype:Yellowflowerswithfiveirregularpetals

Flowerdiameter:~0.6”length

Foliage:Hairless,multiplestems;alternate,oblongleaves;leaves1.2-2.4”long

Height:1-2’

Location:Rivers,ponds,woods,prairies,thickets,roadsides

Growthconditions:● Sun- sun● Soil- sandy● Moisture- moist

SummerBloomingPlants

SensitivepartridgepeaChamaecrista nictitans

Beeforagers:BumblebeesMasonbeesMiningbeesSweatbees

NativetoNewEngland

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87

Flowertype:Fivebroadroundedpetalswithwavyedges;pinktodeeprose;numerousyellowstamens

Flowerdiameter:~2-3”

Foliage:Shrubwithoutpricklesalongitsstems;leavesarealternateandcompound;leafletsare1-1.5”long

Height:4-7’

Location:Woodlandedges,prairie,lakeshores

Growthconditions:● Sun– sun;part

shade● Soil- clay● Moisture-

mediumtodry

A.Barra;W

ikiped

ia.org

SummerBloomingPlants

SmoothroseRosablanda

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesMaskedbeesMasonbeesSweatbeesNativetoNewEngland

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88

Flowertype:Orangeflowerswiththreelobedcorolla

Flowerlength:~1”

Foliage:Ovate,alternateleaves,~5”long

Height:2-5’

Location:Woodlands,alongrivers,androadsideditches

Growthconditions:● Sun- parttofullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- moist

D.Gordo

nE.Rob

ertson

;Wikiped

ia.org

SummerBloomingPlants

SpottedjewelweedImpatienscapensis

Beeforagers:BumblebeesLongtonguedbees

NativetoNewEngland

FritzGeller-Grim

m;W

ikiped

ia.org

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89

Flowertype:Pyramidshapedclusters;densepinktorosepurpleflowers

Flowerdiameter:~0.06”

Foliage:Reddishbrown,hairystemslinedwithtoothed,ovateleaves

Height:2-4’

Location:wetlands;sandymarshes;shorelines

Growthconditions:● Sun– Sun● Soil- loam● Moisture- moist

SummerBloomingPlants

SteeplebushSpiraea tomentosa

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesMaskedbeesMiningbeesSweatbeesNativetoNewEngland

Steven

G.Joh

nson

;Wikiped

ia.org

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90

Flowertype:Compositeflowerwithmanyslender,whitefloretsinaroundhead

Flowerdiameter:~0.5”

Foliage:Leavesinleafletsof3swithdistinctlight-colored markings

Height:6-24”

Location:Fields,roadsidesandmeadows

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- clay● Moisture- moist

Sabine

Noo

ten

SummerBloomingPlants

WhitecloverTrifoliumrepens

Beeforagers:BumblebeesHoneybeesMasonbeesMiningbeesSweatbees Non-native

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91

MollyJa

cobson

Flowertype:Smallelongateclustersofwhitetopale-pinkflowerswith5petals

Flowerdiameter:~0.25”

Foliage:Finelytoothed,lance-shapedleavesalternatingalongthestem

Height:2-6’

Location:Wetlandsandfreshwatershorelines

Growthconditions:● Sun- shadetofull

sun● Soil- any● Moisture-

mediumtowet

SummerBloomingPlants

WhitemeadowsweetSpiraea alba

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesMiningbees

NativetoNewEngland

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Flowertype:Denseroundedclusterofpurplish-pinktubularflowersaroundagreencentraldisk

Flowerdiameter:~1.5”

Foliage:Toothed,lance-shapedleaves;oppositealongunbranchedsquarestems

Height:2-3’

Location:Hillsidesandforestedges

Growthconditions:● Sun- parttofullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- medium

todry

92

Sabine

Noo

ten

AutumnBloomingPlants

WildbergamotMonardafistulosa

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesLeaf-cutterbeesLong-hornedbeesResinbeesSweatbeesWool-carderbees

NativetoNewEngland

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93

WyattShe

ll

Flowertype:Largecompositeflowerwithacone-shaped,blackcentraldisksurroundedbythin,yellowrayflorets

Flowerdiameter:2-4”

Foliage:Thinlytoothedleavesalongacoarsebristlystem

Height:1-3’

Location:Openspaces

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- sand● Moisture- any

level

AutumnBloomingPlants

Black-eyedSusanRudbeckiahirta

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesCuckoobeesLeaf-cutterbeesLong-hornedbeesSweatbeesAndrenarudbeckia

(specialist)NativetoNewEngland

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94

MollyJa

cobson

Flowertype:Curvedone-sidedclustersofsmallyellowflowersatbranchtips

Flowerdiameter:<0.25”length

Foliage:Leaveslanceshaped,sharplytoothed,uniforminsize,smoothstemnearthebase,downyabove

Height:1-5’

Location:Fieldsandroadsides

Growthconditions:● Sun- parttofullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- medium

todry

AutumnBloomingPlants

CanadagoldenrodSolidagocanadensis

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesCellophanebeesCuckoobeesDiggerbeesMaskedbeesMiningbeesSweatbees

NativetoNewEngland

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Flowertype:Compositeflowersmadefrommanybrightyellowflorets,onlongstalks,oftenmorethanonecrownperstalk

Flowerdiameter:~1”

Foliage:Simpleandalternateleaves;leavesare0.75-6’inlength

Height:1-3’

Location:Fields,beaches,woodsandwoodlandedges

Growthconditions:● Sun- shadeto

fullsun● Soil- loam● Moisture- moist

AutumnBloomingPlants

CanadahawkweedHieracium canadense

Beeforagers:BumblebeesLeaf-cutterbeesSweatbeesNativetoNewEngland

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MollyJa

cobson

Flowertype:Denseclustersofsmall,whiteflowersattheapexofthehighestbranches

Flowerdiameter:0.1– 0.25”

Foliage:Bristlystemwithlarge,toothedlowerleavesonoppositesidesandconnectedaroundthestem

Height:4-6’

Location:Openwoodsandprairies

Beeforagers:BumblebeesMaskedbeesMiningbeesSweatbees

AutumnBloomingPlants

CommonbonesetEupatoriumperfoliatum

Growthconditions:● Sun- partshadeto

fullsun● Soil- sandandclay● Moisture- medium

tomoist

NativetoNewEngland

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FritzFlohr

Reynolds;C

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Flowertype:solitarycrownswithmanywedge-shaped,three-toothed,yellowpetalsaroundacentral,knob-shapeddisk

Flowerdiameter:1-2”

Foliage:Slenderstemswithtoothed,lance-shapedleavescomingoffinwings

Height:2-6’

Location:Moistmeadowsandshorelines

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- clay● Moisture-

moist

AutumnBloomingPlants

CommonsneezeweedHeleniumautumnale

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesLeaf-cutterbeesLong-hornedbeesMaskedbeesSweatbees

NativetoNewEngland

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Flowertype:Compositeflowerwith50-100whiterayfloretsandayellowcentraldisk

Flowerdiameter:~0.75”

Foliage:Hairystemwithlanceshaped,toothedhairyleavesthroughoutitslength

Height:1-5’

Location:Fields,roadsidesanddisturbedareas

Growthconditions:● Sun- parttofullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- moist

AutumnBloomingPlants

EasterndaisyfleabaneErigeronannuus

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesCuckoobeesLong-hornedbeesMaskedbeesSweatbees

NativetoNewEngland

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Flowertype:40-50purplerayssurroundingayellow-redcentraldisk

Flowerdiameter:1-2”

Foliage:Lance-shaped,claspedleavessurroundingastemcoveredinbristlyhairs

Height:2-8’

Location:Fieldsanddampmeadows

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesSweatbees

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AutumnBloomingPlants

NewEnglandAsterAster novae-angliae

Growthconditions:● Sun– partshade

tofullsun● Soil- sand,loam,

clay● Moisture- moist

NativetoNewEngland

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Rebe

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Flowertype:Compositeflowerinroundheadswithslender,purpletodarkpinkflorets

Flowerdiameter:~0.5”

Foliage:Leavesinleafletsof3swithawhite,crescentshape

Height:6-24”

Location:Fieldsandmeadows

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- loam● Moisture- moist

AutumnBloomingPlants

RedcloverTrifoliumpratense

Beeforagers:BumblebeesHoneybeesMasonbeesMiningbeesSweatbeesNon-native

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Sabine

Noo

ten

Flowertype:Compositeflowerwithlong,yellowrayfloretsandacone-shaped,browncentraldisk

Flowerdiameter: ~2”

Foliage:Large,egg-shapedleaveswithlongstalksandcoarseteethoppositeatsmoothstem

Height:2-5’

Location:Openwoodsandthickets

Growthconditions:● Sun- fullsun● Soil- sand● Moisture- moist

AutumnBloomingPlants

SmoothoxeyeHeliopsis helianthoides

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCuckoobeesLeaf-cutterbeesLong-hornedbeesMiningbeesSweatbees

NativetoNewEngland

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Flowertype:Yellowflowersincurvedone-sidedclustersatcentralstemandbranches

Flowerdiameter:~0.25”length

Foliage:Lance-shaped,lightly-toothedleavesalongagreyanddownystem

Height:2-7’

Location:Dry,openspaces

Growthconditions:● Sun- parttofull

sun● Soil- sand,loam,

clay● Moisture- moist

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AutumnBloomingPlants

TallgoldenrodSolidagoaltissima

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesDiggerbeesMaskedbeesMiningbeesSweatbees

NativetoNewEngland

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Flowertype:Flowerspikeswithlong,irregular,tubularflowers;color canbepurple,pink,andoccasionallywhite

Flowerdiameter:~0.24”

Foliage:Leavesareoppositeandsimplewithtoothededgesandapointedtip;stemsaresquareandcoveredinshorthairs

Height:2-4’

Location:Woods;alongstreamsandrivers

Growthconditions:● Sun- parttofullsun● Soil- any● Moisture- moist

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AutumnBloomingPlants

PurplegianthyssopAgastachescrophulariifolia

Beeforagers:BumblebeesCarpenterbeesLeaf-cutterbeesLong-hornedbeesResinbeesSweatbeesWool-carderbees

NativetoNewEngland

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HabitatlossThelargestthreatfacingbeesishabitatlossduetothedestructionofnaturallandscapes.Inprotectedandrestoredenvironments,beeshaveaccesstoavarietyofdifferentfloweringplantsthattheycanforageon,anddifferentsubstratesthattheycanusetoconstructnests.

Globally,wehaveseendramaticdeclinesofwildbees.IntheUSalone,thereareeightnativebeesthathavebeenplacedontheendangeredspecieslist,sevenaremaskedbeesfromHawaii.Themostnotable,andonlybeetobefoundinthecontinentalUS,istherustypatchedbumblebee.Formostbeestherearenostatusassessmentsandwehavemuchtolearn.Thereisnotonespecificcauseforwildbeedecline,ratherthedeclineswearewitnessingareacomplexinteractionbetweenmanydifferentfactors.Thesefactorsinclude:

1. Habitatloss2. Climatechange3. Invasivespeciesanddisease

MollyJa

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Bombusterricola

Bee conservation

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year.Ifthetimingisoff,beesmayemergetooearlyortoolateandtheflowerstheyfeedonwillhavealreadyfinishedtheirbloomingcycle.Changesinemergenceofbothflowersandbeesismostdetrimentaltopollenandnectarspecialists.

Humanactivitiessuchassubstantialmonoculturesandexpansiveagricultureandurbanizationthatimpactthenaturalenvironmentmakingitdifficultforbeestofindenoughresourcestosurvive.Oneoftheeasiestwaystoreducethelossofwildbeesistoprovidenativefloweringplantsforthemtoforageon.Forotherwayswecanhelpnativebeesflourishcanbefoundinthe“KeepingtheBees”sectionofthisbooklet.

Globalclimatechange

Changesintemperatureandrainfallcancauseproblemsforbees.Forexample,beesforageandtheirpreferredflowersbloomatthesametimeof

Sabine

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Bombusgriseocollis

105

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Introducedspeciesanddisease

Introducedbeeandplantspeciescancausemanyproblems.Non-nativeplantsandpollinatorsmayout-competenativespeciesanddrivewildspeciesawayfromtheirnaturalenvironments.Additionally,introducedspeciesofplantsandanimalsmaybringdiseasesthatcandecimatenativepopulationswholackresistancetotheseforeignpathogens.Exoticbeeandplantspeciescanspreadrapidlyoutcompetingnativepopulations.

KatherineOdanaka

Theoblongwoolcarderbee(Anthidiumoblongatum)

and thebird’sfoottrefoil (Lotuscorniculatus)arebothintroducedspecies.

106

Sabine

Noo

ten

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Beesandotherpollinatorsareessentialforthesurvivalofalmosteveryterrestrialecosystem.ItisestimatedthatthesesmallworkerscontributebillionsofdollarsworthofworktotheagriculturalsectorintheUSalone.Therearemanythreatstothesespecies,andmakingsurewedoeverythingwecantoconservethemisvitalfortheirpersistence.Helpingoursix-leggedneighbors isnotjustajobforscientistsandresearchers;everyonecanandshouldgetinvolved.HereweprovideinformationonafewwaysthatyoucansupportthenativebeesofNewEngland!

SabineNooten

KeepingtheBees

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grassprovidenofoodforpollinatorsandalsomakethedistancesbetweennestingandforagingareastoolargetosupportsomespeciesofbees.Onewaytohelpsolvethisproblemistoleavea“softedge,”afewfeetofun-mowedlawnalongtheoutskirtstoallowflowerstobloomandprovidebeeswithafoodsource.Pesticideandherbicidecontrol

Herbicidescankillplantsthatbeescanforageon.Pesticidesarechemicalsusedtokillinsectsthatcauseproblemsforhumans,butthesechemicalsalsoaffectthenativebees.Theuseofpesticidesandherbicidesonlawns,gardens,andcropsisunhealthyforeverymemberofthecommunity:

MowingChanginglawncarehabitsisoneoftheeasiestwaystosupportlocalbeespecies.Expansive,well-kemptlawnsmightlookappealingtosomelandscapers,butthishurtsthebeecommunityinmultipleways.Largetractsofmowed

Snow

manradio;W

ikiped

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Anexampleofasoftedge

108

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pollinators,plants,andotheranimals(includinghumans).Pleasedonotuseunlessabsolutelynecessarybecausetheykillinsects,includingbees.Beehotels

Asshowninthisfieldguide,manyofthenativebeespeciesinNewEnglandconstructtheirnestsinpre-existingcavitiesorburrowintothesoftcenters ofdeadwoodmaterials.Abeehotelissimplyacollectionofsuitablesticksforthesebeestocreatetheirnests.Drilledholesinuntreatedwood,stickswithpithycenters,andhollowedsticksofbamboocancreateagreatplaceforavarietyofbeestothrive.Beehotelsthrivewhenplacedinfullsunandprotectedwitharooftokeepthenestsdry.

Sand

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an

AbeehotelonUNHcampus109

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Wildflowergardens

Notonlyarewildflowergardensattractivetothehumaneye,theyhelptocreatebuffetsforbees.Especiallyinurbanareaswherefloweringplantscanbefewandfarbetween,patchesofflowerscanhelptomaintainbeepopulations.Someornamentalflowersareunabletobepollinatedbythenativebeepopulations,soitisimportantandmuchmorebeneficialtousewildflowersthatbloomnaturallyinthesurroundingarea.Thesegardensnotonlyprovidesustenance,butcanmakeanemptyspacemuchmorebeautiful.

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Wildflower garden

110

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Resources

GoBotany.NewEnglandWildflowerSociety,2018.gobotany.newenglandwild.org

HolmH.2014.PollinatorsofNativePlants.PollinationPress.

LadyBirdJohnsonWildflowerCenter.TheUniversityofTexasatAustin,2018.www.wildflower.org/plants/

Newcom L.1977.Newcomb’sWildflowerGuide.Little,BrownandCompany.

PlantsForAFuture.PlantsForAFuture,2012.pfaf.org/user/Default.aspx

WilsonJS&Carril OM.2016.TheBeesInYourBackyard.PrincetonUniversityPress.

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Indexofpollinatorsandwildflowers

Pollinators

112

Agapostemon 43,57Agapostemon sericus 44Agapostemontexanus 44Agapostemon virescens 6,43Andrena carlini 23

Andrena spp. 21,22,36,57,60Andrena vicina 24Andrena wilkella 23Anthidiumspp. 49Anthidium manicatum 49,50Anthidium oblongatum 50,106Anthophora 61Apis 25Apis mellifera 25Augochlora 43Augochlora pura 45Augochlorella 43Augochlorella aurata 46Augochloropsis 43Augochloropsis metallica 46Bandedsweatbee 40Beefly 19Beewolf 17Bicoloredstripedsweatbee 43Blueorchardbee 53,54

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Bombus 14,26Bombusbimaculatus 27Bombusgriseocollis 27,28,105Bombusimpatiens 27,29Bombusperplexus 30Bombusspp. 14,26Bombusterricola 104Bombyliidae 19Brown-beltedbumblebee 27,28,105Bumblebee 9,11,14,26Calliopsis 58,60Cantharidae 19Cellophanebees 36,60Cerambycidae 20Ceratina calcarata 8,10,12,32Ceratina 32,55Chauliognathus pensylvanicus 19cleptoparasitic bee 7Coelioxys 61Colletes 36,60Colletes inaequalis 37Colletes validus 9,38Commoneasternbumblebee 27,29Crabronidae 17Cuckoobee 21,56Diggerwasp 17Dolichovespula sp. 18

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EasternCarpenterBee 6Eucera 15,33,35Eucera pruinosa 15,33,35Europeanwoolcarderbee 50Flowerflies 16Greensweatbee 43Halictus 40Halictus confusus 41Halictus ligatus 40,41Halictus rubicundus 42Hemaris diffinis 17Holcopastites 58Honeybee 6,7,14,25Hoplitis 14,55Hornet 18Horn-facedbee 53,54Hummingbirdmoth 17Hylaeus 36,39Hylaeus modestus 39Laphria sp. 20Largecarpenterbee 10,11,31Lasioglossum 47,60Lasioglossum pilosum 15,48Lasioglossum tegulare 47Leaf-cutterbee 10,51,61Locustborer 20Long-hornedbee 33

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Maskedbee 39Masonbee 53,55Megachile inimica sayi 52Megachile mendica 52Megachile rotundata 51Megachile sp. 5Megacyllene robiniae 20Melissodes 33,59Melissodes bimaculata 33Melissodes trinodis 34Miningbee 11,21,22,60Nomada luteoloides 7,58Nomada spp. 56,57Oblongwoolcarderbee 50,106Orangesunflowerbee 34Osmia 53Osmiacornifrons 10,53,54Osmialignaria 53,54Paperwasp 18Perplexingbumblebee 30Philanthus gibbosus 17Philanthus ventilabris 49Robberfly 20Sandwasp 17Smallcarpenterbee 8,10,32,55Smalldarksweatbee 47Soldierbeetle 19

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Southernbronzefurrowbee 41Sphecodes 60Sphingidae 17Squashbee 15,35Sweatbee 11,59,60Syrphidae 16Systoechus vulgaris 19Toxomerus germinatus 16Triepeolus 59Triepeolus donatus 59Two-spottedlong-hornbee 33Two-spottedbumblebee 27Vespid wasp 18Woolcarderbee 49Xylocopa 31Xylocopa virginica 11,31Yellowjacket 18

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Wildflowers

117

Agastachescrophulariifolia 103Apple 22Asclepias syriaca 80Asclepias tuberosa 64Asternovae-angliae 99Barbarea vulgaris 69Bird's-foottrefoil 50,77,106Blacklocust 20Black-eyedSusan 93Bloodroot 63Blueberry 30,38Bluevervain 78Butterflyweed 64Canadagoldenrod 94Canadahawkweed 95CanadienSt.John'swort 79Carolinaspringbeauty 65Chamaecrista nictitans 86Cirsiumdiscolor 82Claytoniacariliniana 65Commonboneset 96Commondandelion 66Commonmilkweed 80Commonsneezeweed 97

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Commonstrawberry 67Coreopsislanceolata 70Cornus sericea 76Creepingphlox 70Crimsonclover 81Easterndaisyfleabane 98Echinaceapurpurea 72Erigeronannuus 98Eupatoriumperfoliatum 96Fieldthistle 82Foxglovebeardtongue 83Fragariavirginiana 67Gardenyellowrocket 69Geraniummaculatum 75Heleniumautumnale 97Helianthusannuus 34Heliopsis helianthoides 101Hieracium canadense 95Houstonia caerulea 73Hypericumcanadense 79Impatienscapensis 88Lanceleaf coreopsis 70Large-leavedlupine 71Liliumsp. 13Lotuscorniculatus 50,77,106Lupinus polyphyllus 71Maluspumila 22

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Monardafistulosa 14,92Mountainmint 84NewEnglandAster 99Oxalisstricta 76Penstamon digitalis 83Phloxstolonifera 70Potentillanorvegica 85PurpleConeflower 72Purplegianthyssop 103Pycanthemum virginianum 84Quakerlady 73Redclover 100Red-oiserdogwood 74Rosablanda 87Roughcinquefoil 85Rudbeckia hirta 93Sanguinaria canadensis 63Sensitivepartridgepea 86Spottedjewelweed 88Smoothoxeye 5,101Smoothrose 87Solidago altissima 102Solidago canadensis 94Spiraea alba 91Spiraea tomentosa 89Spottedgeranium 75Steeplebush 89

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Tallgoldenrod 102Taraxacum officinale 66Trifolium incarnatum 81Trifolium pratense 100Trifolium repens 90

Vacciniumcorymbosum 30,38Verbana hasta 78

Whiteclover 90Whitemeadowsweet 91

Wildbergamot 14,92Yellowwoodsorrel 76

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cm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

in2

13

4