and now for something completely different
different
different bees so you know we think it’s something
bees so you know we think it’s something
bees so you know we think it’s something different but the reality is that these
different but the reality is that these
different but the reality is that these are also our co-inhabitants there are
are also our co-inhabitants there are
are also our co-inhabitants there are collaborators in many way our food
collaborators in many way our food
collaborators in many way our food security is dependent on what are
security is dependent on what are
security is dependent on what are essentially bugs to most people and so
essentially bugs to most people and so
essentially bugs to most people and so that’s the tie in here there’s changes
that’s the tie in here there’s changes
that’s the tie in here there’s changes going on in the natural environment
going on in the natural environment
going on in the natural environment there’s changes going within our social
there’s changes going within our social
there’s changes going within our social fabric this is part of this larger
fabric this is part of this larger
fabric this is part of this larger picture that we want to demonstrate so I
picture that we want to demonstrate so I
picture that we want to demonstrate so I actually really get to see them this big
actually really get to see them this big
actually really get to see them this big and so it’s nice to to look at that and
and so it’s nice to to look at that and
and so it’s nice to to look at that and think also like what if they really were
think also like what if they really were
think also like what if they really were that big we would have a lot more
that big we would have a lot more
that big we would have a lot more respect for bees at that point
respect for bees at that point
respect for bees at that point particularly the stinging part ok I’m
particularly the stinging part ok I’m
particularly the stinging part ok I’m distracting myself so let me introduce
distracting myself so let me introduce
distracting myself so let me introduce and Thora FF fabulous collected in the
and Thora FF fabulous collected in the
and Thora FF fabulous collected in the Badlands of North Dakota
Badlands of North Dakota
Badlands of North Dakota probably on gumbo lily or perhaps on a
probably on gumbo lily or perhaps on a
probably on gumbo lily or perhaps on a straggle as’ look at the size of just
straggle as’ look at the size of just
straggle as’ look at the size of just the tongue on that and the architecture
the tongue on that and the architecture
the tongue on that and the architecture very different from honeybees which
very different from honeybees which
very different from honeybees which we’ll talk about in a second this is one
we’ll talk about in a second this is one
we’ll talk about in a second this is one of about 4,000 different species I say
of about 4,000 different species I say
of about 4,000 different species I say about because we don’t know the complete
about because we don’t know the complete
about because we don’t know the complete total of wild bees that for 250 million
total of wild bees that for 250 million
total of wild bees that for 250 million years have kept our North American fauna
years have kept our North American fauna
years have kept our North American fauna or flora of wild plants and in seeds and
or flora of wild plants and in seeds and
or flora of wild plants and in seeds and production has kept it going so I’m
production has kept it going so I’m
production has kept it going so I’m going to talk more about those and I
going to talk more about those and I
going to talk more about those and I also want to contrast it with this this
also want to contrast it with this this
also want to contrast it with this this is a the honeybee which most people are
is a the honeybee which most people are
is a the honeybee which most people are familiar with most people are not
familiar with most people are not
familiar with most people are not familiar with the wild bees honeybees
familiar with the wild bees honeybees
familiar with the wild bees honeybees are radically different from our wild
are radically different from our wild
are radically different from our wild species they’re not native to the
species they’re not native to the
species they’re not native to the continent originally they’re brought in
continent originally they’re brought in
continent originally they’re brought in by the colonists right almost right away
by the colonists right almost right away
by the colonists right almost right away and everything that you know about
and everything that you know about
and everything that you know about honeybees none of that applies to our
honeybees none of that applies to our
honeybees none of that applies to our wild species no Queens no pollen
wild species no Queens no pollen
wild species no Queens no pollen collected by the workers there’s no
collected by the workers there’s no
collected by the workers there’s no waggle dances there’s no barbed stings
waggle dances there’s no barbed stings
waggle dances there’s no barbed stings there’s no honey there’s no wax no hives
there’s no honey there’s no wax no hives
there’s no honey there’s no wax no hives we can go on and on and on I need you to
we can go on and on and on I need you to
we can go on and on and on I need you to do this forget everything you know about
do this forget everything you know about
do this forget everything you know about honeybees when we talk about the native
honeybees when we talk about the native
honeybees when we talk about the native species
species
species additionally honeybees
additionally honeybees
additionally honeybees are affected by quite a bit of a
are affected by quite a bit of a
are affected by quite a bit of a different set of problems they have a
different set of problems they have a
different set of problems they have a whole set of introduced pathogens their
whole set of introduced pathogens their
whole set of introduced pathogens their populations are vulnerable right now
populations are vulnerable right now
populations are vulnerable right now they’re still effective within
they’re still effective within
they’re still effective within agricultural systems but they’re more
agricultural systems but they’re more
agricultural systems but they’re more expensive and they’re subject to
expensive and they’re subject to
expensive and they’re subject to something that may be close to collapse
something that may be close to collapse
something that may be close to collapse if another insult comes along so the
if another insult comes along so the
if another insult comes along so the reason we talk about wild bees in
reason we talk about wild bees in
reason we talk about wild bees in addition to the fact that they’re really
addition to the fact that they’re really
addition to the fact that they’re really interesting and they’re just part of our
interesting and they’re just part of our
interesting and they’re just part of our inhabitants is this is the backfill for
inhabitants is this is the backfill for
inhabitants is this is the backfill for honeybees they’re right now already
honeybees they’re right now already
honeybees they’re right now already doing a lot of our pollination in our
doing a lot of our pollination in our
doing a lot of our pollination in our agricultural systems and as I mentioned
agricultural systems and as I mentioned
agricultural systems and as I mentioned before they’re taking care of all of our
before they’re taking care of all of our
before they’re taking care of all of our wild plants so if honeybees get into
wild plants so if honeybees get into
wild plants so if honeybees get into further and further trouble these are
further and further trouble these are
further and further trouble these are the things that are coming and replace
the things that are coming and replace
the things that are coming and replace those so I want to show you just a
those so I want to show you just a
those so I want to show you just a series of slides showing you the
series of slides showing you the
series of slides showing you the diversity and the architecture of many
diversity and the architecture of many
diversity and the architecture of many of our different wild species some are
of our different wild species some are
of our different wild species some are fact most of them are about the size of
fact most of them are about the size of
fact most of them are about the size of a grain of rice many of them are the
a grain of rice many of them are the
a grain of rice many of them are the size of bumble bees in fact about 50
size of bumble bees in fact about 50
size of bumble bees in fact about 50 species are bumble bees within the
species are bumble bees within the
species are bumble bees within the continents so this huge amount of
continents so this huge amount of
continents so this huge amount of diversity going on here and if you think
diversity going on here and if you think
diversity going on here and if you think about wildflowers
about wildflowers
about wildflowers so all those sizes and shapes we know
so all those sizes and shapes we know
so all those sizes and shapes we know about flowers a lot more than we know
about flowers a lot more than we know
about flowers a lot more than we know about bees that size and shape of wild
about bees that size and shape of wild
about bees that size and shape of wild flowers why does that exist because of
flowers why does that exist because of
flowers why does that exist because of this collaboration between the wild bees
this collaboration between the wild bees
this collaboration between the wild bees and the flowers they’re fitting so to
and the flowers they’re fitting so to
and the flowers they’re fitting so to speak one another and so the
speak one another and so the
speak one another and so the architecture of the bees that you see
architecture of the bees that you see
architecture of the bees that you see here these wild species is mirroring the
here these wild species is mirroring the
here these wild species is mirroring the architecture of the flowers themselves
architecture of the flowers themselves
architecture of the flowers themselves different sizes and shapes of tongues
different sizes and shapes of tongues
different sizes and shapes of tongues the body forms the kinds of pollen
the body forms the kinds of pollen
the body forms the kinds of pollen they’re use and gets very complicated
they’re use and gets very complicated
they’re use and gets very complicated I’d love to talk about it more but I
I’d love to talk about it more but I
I’d love to talk about it more but I only have 10 minutes here and I just
only have 10 minutes here and I just
only have 10 minutes here and I just want you to appreciate also the beauty
want you to appreciate also the beauty
want you to appreciate also the beauty that also I think mirrors the wild
that also I think mirrors the wild
that also I think mirrors the wild flowers that we know and love very well
flowers that we know and love very well
flowers that we know and love very well these are many of these occur just
these are many of these occur just
these are many of these occur just within our our yards and our surrounding
within our our yards and our surrounding
within our our yards and our surrounding areas we just ignore them because
areas we just ignore them because
areas we just ignore them because they’re not stinging us it’s not a honey
they’re not stinging us it’s not a honey
they’re not stinging us it’s not a honey bee situation we’re not allergic to them
bee situation we’re not allergic to them
bee situation we’re not allergic to them but they also don’t provide us honey
but they also don’t provide us honey
but they also don’t provide us honey they do provide us with the pollination
they do provide us with the pollination
they do provide us with the pollination services that we need for wild flowers
services that we need for wild flowers
services that we need for wild flowers and partially for our commercial crops
and partially for our commercial crops
and partially for our commercial crops so they become more and more important
so they become more and more important
so they become more and more important as
as
as bees have become more and more
bees have become more and more
bees have become more and more vulnerable to problems such as
vulnerable to problems such as
vulnerable to problems such as pesticides and the stress that’s put on
pesticides and the stress that’s put on
pesticides and the stress that’s put on them so we have many different kinds of
them so we have many different kinds of
them so we have many different kinds of things going on here so this is a map is
things going on here so this is a map is
things going on here so this is a map is my only data map so what we have is red
my only data map so what we have is red
my only data map so what we have is red or areas of decline or change here we
or areas of decline or change here we
or areas of decline or change here we have a change map and blue our areas of
have a change map and blue our areas of
have a change map and blue our areas of increase I wish I could say that this is
increase I wish I could say that this is
increase I wish I could say that this is a map of change in wild bee populations
a map of change in wild bee populations
a map of change in wild bee populations and that really had that kind of data we
and that really had that kind of data we
and that really had that kind of data we don’t we don’t really have that
don’t we don’t really have that
don’t we don’t really have that information that allows us to speak to
information that allows us to speak to
information that allows us to speak to that but we do for lots of other species
that but we do for lots of other species
that but we do for lots of other species particularly the vertebrates so birds we
particularly the vertebrates so birds we
particularly the vertebrates so birds we study those we love those there have
study those we love those there have
study those we love those there have been on a radar screen for quite a long
been on a radar screen for quite a long
been on a radar screen for quite a long time
time
time this is bobwhite quail so bobwhite quail
this is bobwhite quail so bobwhite quail
this is bobwhite quail so bobwhite quail exists in these same environments that
exists in these same environments that
exists in these same environments that bees do and they’re the recipients of
bees do and they’re the recipients of
bees do and they’re the recipients of bee products B flower products ie seeds
bee products B flower products ie seeds
bee products B flower products ie seeds is what they use particularly during the
is what they use particularly during the
is what they use particularly during the winter and they also use the same open
winter and they also use the same open
winter and they also use the same open environments which are vulnerable now
environments which are vulnerable now
environments which are vulnerable now and declining so we can look at this and
and declining so we can look at this and
and declining so we can look at this and a whole bunch of other species and
a whole bunch of other species and
a whole bunch of other species and they’re all showing the same pattern of
they’re all showing the same pattern of
they’re all showing the same pattern of decline and redness and what we’re
decline and redness and what we’re
decline and redness and what we’re seeing is a loss of flour so flowers are
seeing is a loss of flour so flowers are
seeing is a loss of flour so flowers are a driver for many things particularly
a driver for many things particularly
a driver for many things particularly for bees but they’re also our drivers
for bees but they’re also our drivers
for bees but they’re also our drivers for a lot of things that are dependent
for a lot of things that are dependent
for a lot of things that are dependent on them for cover food and and those
on them for cover food and and those
on them for cover food and and those kinds of things so the big issue is not
kinds of things so the big issue is not
kinds of things so the big issue is not pesticides for wild bees pesticides are
pesticides for wild bees pesticides are
pesticides for wild bees pesticides are an interaction that occurs within AG
an interaction that occurs within AG
an interaction that occurs within AG systems most of the wild bees that we’re
systems most of the wild bees that we’re
systems most of the wild bees that we’re concerned about are in our natural areas
concerned about are in our natural areas
concerned about are in our natural areas and the areas we live in the issues
and the areas we live in the issues
and the areas we live in the issues there are land use change and land
there are land use change and land
there are land use change and land change in general the short story is
change in general the short story is
change in general the short story is we’re simplifying things too much and
we’re simplifying things too much and
we’re simplifying things too much and we’re losing many species bees are one
we’re losing many species bees are one
we’re losing many species bees are one of them but many of the other birds that
of them but many of the other birds that
of them but many of the other birds that we track are too so bees all bees
we track are too so bees all bees
we track are too so bees all bees honeybees it doesn’t really matter all
honeybees it doesn’t really matter all
honeybees it doesn’t really matter all of them are obligate pollen feeders no
of them are obligate pollen feeders no
of them are obligate pollen feeders no pollen no bees no flowers no pollen no
pollen no bees no flowers no pollen no
pollen no bees no flowers no pollen no bees no pollen no flowers no bees no
bees no pollen no flowers no bees no
bees no pollen no flowers no bees no seeds no bobwhite quail and a lot of
seeds no bobwhite quail and a lot of
seeds no bobwhite quail and a lot of other things and you start doing that
other things and you start doing that
other things and you start doing that too much and then we have system
too much and then we have system
too much and then we have system collapse and we have to worry about
collapse and we have to worry about
collapse and we have to worry about larger things than just simply we where
larger things than just simply we where
larger things than just simply we where are the bees it’s part of the thing that
are the bees it’s part of the thing that
are the bees it’s part of the thing that makes the earth go round another piece
makes the earth go round another piece
makes the earth go round another piece that’s there for many
that’s there for many
that’s there for many of our wild species is compared to honey
of our wild species is compared to honey
of our wild species is compared to honey bees honeybees are generalists they’ll
bees honeybees are generalists they’ll
bees honeybees are generalists they’ll use a variety they have preferences of
use a variety they have preferences of
use a variety they have preferences of different kinds of plants in terms of
different kinds of plants in terms of
different kinds of plants in terms of pollen and nectar use many of our
pollen and nectar use many of our
pollen and nectar use many of our species particularly in the deserts
species particularly in the deserts
species particularly in the deserts there’s they’re up to fifty percent are
there’s they’re up to fifty percent are
there’s they’re up to fifty percent are highly specialized I as a bee only go to
highly specialized I as a bee only go to
highly specialized I as a bee only go to willow I only go to cactus I only use
willow I only go to cactus I only use
willow I only go to cactus I only use panted area or a variety of different
panted area or a variety of different
panted area or a variety of different plants so there’s now because of the
plants so there’s now because of the
plants so there’s now because of the specialization this high specialization
specialization this high specialization
specialization this high specialization again look at plants and look at the
again look at plants and look at the
again look at plants and look at the different architecture they’re really
different architecture they’re really
different architecture they’re really working the bee system hard on this
working the bee system hard on this
working the bee system hard on this there are generalists that will move
there are generalists that will move
there are generalists that will move into our crops but many of the
into our crops but many of the
into our crops but many of the conservation concerns species are the
conservation concerns species are the
conservation concerns species are the species that specialize so there’s now a
species that specialize so there’s now a
species that specialize so there’s now a connection between not just flowers you
connection between not just flowers you
connection between not just flowers you can’t plant a bunch of clover and save
can’t plant a bunch of clover and save
can’t plant a bunch of clover and save all the bees there’s a connection
all the bees there’s a connection
all the bees there’s a connection between the diversity of the plants that
between the diversity of the plants that
between the diversity of the plants that are on the planet and the diversity of
are on the planet and the diversity of
are on the planet and the diversity of bees and many other insect species that
bees and many other insect species that
bees and many other insect species that are not part of that so what does that
are not part of that so what does that
are not part of that so what does that mean what we have to do is we have to
mean what we have to do is we have to
mean what we have to do is we have to think about feeding bees within our
think about feeding bees within our
think about feeding bees within our environment flowers so if we look at the
environment flowers so if we look at the
environment flowers so if we look at the average landscape we have lots of
average landscape we have lots of
average landscape we have lots of opportunity or lots of loss depending on
opportunity or lots of loss depending on
opportunity or lots of loss depending on it we play it we have roadsides like
it we play it we have roadsides like
it we play it we have roadsides like this they can either be Mon and
this they can either be Mon and
this they can either be Mon and herbicide that out of all their the
herbicide that out of all their the
herbicide that out of all their the blooming plant part of the spectrum and
blooming plant part of the spectrum and
blooming plant part of the spectrum and grasses and things like that are not
grasses and things like that are not
grasses and things like that are not used by bees they need things that have
used by bees they need things that have
used by bees they need things that have flowers that’s why flowers exist we have
flowers that’s why flowers exist we have
flowers that’s why flowers exist we have then this connection again with the
then this connection again with the
then this connection again with the biodiversity so really to save bees it’s
biodiversity so really to save bees it’s
biodiversity so really to save bees it’s not about chemical companies it’s about
not about chemical companies it’s about
not about chemical companies it’s about saving the plant diversity and that
saving the plant diversity and that
saving the plant diversity and that means you and I so we have access we own
means you and I so we have access we own
means you and I so we have access we own land we work with municipalities we
land we work with municipalities we
land we work with municipalities we influence those kinds of things on how
influence those kinds of things on how
influence those kinds of things on how things are planted this is my backyard
things are planted this is my backyard
things are planted this is my backyard it originally was entirely lawn you may
it originally was entirely lawn you may
it originally was entirely lawn you may not cultivate it in this way but this is
not cultivate it in this way but this is
not cultivate it in this way but this is the type of integration where you bring
the type of integration where you bring
the type of integration where you bring back a component of the surrounding
back a component of the surrounding
back a component of the surrounding native vegetation you sculpt it in
native vegetation you sculpt it in
native vegetation you sculpt it in particular ways that you would prefer to
particular ways that you would prefer to
particular ways that you would prefer to see but if you have lawn but you can at
see but if you have lawn but you can at
see but if you have lawn but you can at a very simple level you’re not doing the
a very simple level you’re not doing the
a very simple level you’re not doing the world a favor in terms of the
world a favor in terms of the
world a favor in terms of the environment you need to be providing
environment you need to be providing
environment you need to be providing flowers if you concern if you’re
flowers if you concern if you’re
flowers if you concern if you’re concerned about bee
concerned about bee
concerned about bee so lots of talk about there in terms of
so lots of talk about there in terms of
so lots of talk about there in terms of the application but the idea is to move
the application but the idea is to move
the application but the idea is to move away from lawn corporate kinds of
away from lawn corporate kinds of
away from lawn corporate kinds of landscapes and bring back naturalized
landscapes and bring back naturalized
landscapes and bring back naturalized sorts of landscapes and do that in an
sorts of landscapes and do that in an
sorts of landscapes and do that in an aesthetic manner so a trick is if you
aesthetic manner so a trick is if you
aesthetic manner so a trick is if you just stop mowing people look at that and
just stop mowing people look at that and
just stop mowing people look at that and say you know what’s going on here
say you know what’s going on here
say you know what’s going on here have you abandoned this land this is
have you abandoned this land this is
have you abandoned this land this is laziness this is not meeting my cultural
laziness this is not meeting my cultural
laziness this is not meeting my cultural idea of taking care of the earth or at
idea of taking care of the earth or at
idea of taking care of the earth or at least presenting ourselves as a
least presenting ourselves as a
least presenting ourselves as a community as an important you know a
community as an important you know a
community as an important you know a place we want to do business so you can
place we want to do business so you can
place we want to do business so you can do that but it has going to take more
do that but it has going to take more
do that but it has going to take more work on our part than simply stopping
work on our part than simply stopping
work on our part than simply stopping mowing or doing plantings we have to do
mowing or doing plantings we have to do
mowing or doing plantings we have to do it in a way that’s beautiful that says I
it in a way that’s beautiful that says I
it in a way that’s beautiful that says I did this on purpose I’m not just lazy
did this on purpose I’m not just lazy
did this on purpose I’m not just lazy it’s my last one so really the
it’s my last one so really the
it’s my last one so really the opportunity here is to think about the
opportunity here is to think about the
opportunity here is to think about the places that you live and that the lawns
places that you live and that the lawns
places that you live and that the lawns that you maintain and ask yourself well
that you maintain and ask yourself well
that you maintain and ask yourself well what is it that I’m doing here how am I
what is it that I’m doing here how am I
what is it that I’m doing here how am I playing a part in saving bees in how can
playing a part in saving bees in how can
playing a part in saving bees in how can I move away from these kinds of lawn
I move away from these kinds of lawn
I move away from these kinds of lawn scapes and these places where how can I
scapes and these places where how can I
scapes and these places where how can I work with the parks and municipalities
work with the parks and municipalities
work with the parks and municipalities to add a little buffer around the
to add a little buffer around the
to add a little buffer around the playing fields to add the highways into
playing fields to add the highways into
playing fields to add the highways into the town and leave some of those spots
the town and leave some of those spots
the town and leave some of those spots as wild re naturalized areas so it’s
as wild re naturalized areas so it’s
as wild re naturalized areas so it’s very interactive we really can’t blame
very interactive we really can’t blame
very interactive we really can’t blame corporate are the chemical companies and
corporate are the chemical companies and
corporate are the chemical companies and pesticides for most of the problem most
pesticides for most of the problem most
pesticides for most of the problem most of the problem is really is something
of the problem is really is something
of the problem is really is something that we’re involved in something that we
that we’re involved in something that we
that we’re involved in something that we can affect our selves personally so
can affect our selves personally so
can affect our selves personally so you’ll want you to walk away with some
you’ll want you to walk away with some
you’ll want you to walk away with some sense of responsibility for the problems
sense of responsibility for the problems
sense of responsibility for the problems that bees have here that’s pretty much
that bees have here that’s pretty much
that bees have here that’s pretty much all I say have I worked for the
all I say have I worked for the
all I say have I worked for the government so here’s my government
government so here’s my government
government so here’s my government address and with all the pictures you’ve
address and with all the pictures you’ve
address and with all the pictures you’ve seen our downloadable if you want more
seen our downloadable if you want more
seen our downloadable if you want more information about bees and all the nerdy
information about bees and all the nerdy
information about bees and all the nerdy little things that I am really
little things that I am really
little things that I am really interested in as a scientist you can get
interested in as a scientist you can get
interested in as a scientist you can get in contact with me thank you
”
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