The objective of the blueorchardbeesinarizonaproject is to determine if we can propagate ‘Blue Orchard Bees” in various Arizona environments. The objectives span basic research, education and marketing.
Our results have not been encouraging. The bees in all four locations (two sites at each location, except Site4 with one location) did not successfully propagate. We are considering several reasons why this might be the case. This will be thoroughly documented in our “Final Report”.
While conducting this study, we did notice a native population of leaf cutter bees, another member of the solitary bee family, at the Phoenix sites. The evidence was obvious from the distinctive circular ‘cutouts’ on various leaves.
In addition, we saw direct evidence of leaf cutter bees using our habitats that we provided for our blue orchard bees.
As an adjunct to our original study of propagating Blue Orchard Bees we propose to initiate a small-scale study of propagating leaf cutter bees in the Arizona environment. At a minimum, leaf cutters should be acclimated to Arizona given the native population and the fact that leaf cutter bees become active at higher temperatures than the 55 deg F for Blue Orchard Bees. “In general, they emerge later in the summer when temperatures are in the 80°’s F (25°’s C).”
We propose to procure 500 (more?) leaf cutter bees and using existing habitats distribute them in the Phoenix (Site1), Cornville (Site2) and Payson (Site3) sites as:
Plan for (200?) leaf cutter bees already received:
1. Place at Gilbert Site1a1 and Site1a2 with reeds from Justina
2. Observe the precautions that came with the bees (courtesy Crown Bees):
Before populating the Cornville and Payson sites we will do a site survey in to determine:
1. Any evidence of native leaf cutter bees: leaves cut in semicircular pattern, direct observation of bees, observation of nesting areas.
We did have evidence of some leaf cutter bee activity at the Payson site:
2. Quantity, quality, and type of flowering plants
3. Discussion with local neighbors on their attempt to place solitary bees at their locations. Results?
An additional variable is that we will release bees at intervals (4-6 weeks) to see if decreasing temperatures have any observable effect. Note that as of mid-August, temperatures in Phoenix continue to exceed 100 deg F.
Comments