wmct276's Journal

This journal is part of a field study to identify what species of wild bees are pollinating our food crops.

The following data is a Species Count of bees that were observed pollinating wild blackberries (Rubus) in Winnebago County Illinois. Observations were conducted from May 25-May 29, at 9 different locations: 8 forest preserves and 1 undeveloped rural residential lot. Sites were only surveyed once.

13 different species were observed. The rural residential lot had the most diversity with 9 species, compared to 5 species, or fewer, at each of the forest preserves.

Pollinating Bees
Andrena Crataegi (Hawthorns Mining Bee)
Andrena Dunningi (Dunnings Miner)
Andrena Nasonii (Nasons Mining Bee)
Andrena Vicina (Neighborly Mining Bee)
Andrena Wilkella (Wilkes Mining Bee)
Apis Mellifera (Western Honey Bee)
Augochlorella Pura (Pure Gold Sweat Bee)

Bombus Auricomus (Black and Gold Bumble Bee)
Bombus Bimaculatus (Two Spot Bumble Bee)
Bombus Impatiens (Common Eastern Bumble Bee)
Bombus Rufocinctus (Red Belted Bumble Bee)
Ceratina (Small Carpenter Bee)
Halictus Ligatus (Ligated Furrow Bee)

There has been a worldwide growing concern to save the bees, but most of that concern is directed towards saving honeybees. Honey bees are credited for pollinating our crops, but they are not the only bee that is pollinating. In May 2023, I did a daily species count to identify what species of bees are pollinating the blueberry bushes in my urban garden. Survey was taken on 8 blueberry bushes; 6 bluecrop and 2 northlands

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vbNs3wMV-iMQpD7DyNvjkKTfd6mYnpSo6U5ffxi42tk/edit?usp=sharing

433 Bombus pensylvanicus were observed by 176 observers on iNaturalist; in Illinois prior to 2023. The following data is a list of flowers that the bees were observed on. The purpose of the data is to help people identify which flowers to plant in their yard (or preserve) for Bombus pensylvanicus, and to increase their awareness of what flowers the bees might be found on when searching for B.pensylvanicus in the wild.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ih7fbU_iug5AgrkzpeFEue8igK5QAikgNxDNQeshjk8/edit?usp=sharing