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Pollinator News March 3, 2017

Landmark Report: Hundreds of Native Bee Species Sliding

Toward Extinction

PORTLAND, Ore.— In the first comprehensive review of the more than 4,000 native bee species in

North America and Hawaii, the Center for Biological Diversity has found that more than half the species

with sufficient data to assess are declining. Nearly 1 in 4 is imperiled and at increasing risk of extinction.

The new analysis, Pollinators in Peril: A

systematic status review of North American and Hawaiian

native bees, revealed that more than 700 species are in

trouble from a range of serious threats, including

severe habitat loss and escalating pesticide use.

“The evidence is overwhelming that hundreds

of the native bees we depend on for ecosystem

stability, as well as pollination services worth

billions of dollars, are spiraling toward extinction,”

said Kelsey Kopec, a native pollinator researcher at

the Center and author of the study. “It’s a quiet but

staggering crisis unfolding right under our noses that

illuminates the unacceptably high cost of our

careless addiction to pesticides and monoculture

farming.”

The widespread decline of European honeybees has been

well documented in recent years. But until now much less

has been revealed about the 4,337 native bee species in

North America and Hawaii. These mostly solitary, ground-nesting bees play a crucial ecological role by

pollinating wild plants and provide more than $3 billion in fruit-pollination services each year in the

United States. The widespread decline of European honeybees has been well documented in recent

years. But until now much less has been revealed about the 4,337 native bee species in North America

and Hawaii. These mostly solitary, ground-nesting bees play a crucial ecological role by pollinating wild

plants and provide more than $3 billion in fruit-pollination services each year in the United States.

The key findings:

Among native bee species with sufficient data to assess (1,437), more than half (749) are

declining; (Click here

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http://biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/native_pollinators/pdfs/native_bees_index.pdf to see a

list of the bees as well as their status and geographic range.)

Nearly 1 in 4 (347 native bee species) is imperiled and at increasing risk of extinction.

Many of the bee species lacking sufficient data are also likely declining or at risk of extinction,

highlighting the urgent need for additional research.

The declines are caused primarily by habitat loss, heavy pesticide use, climate change and

urbanization.

These troubling findings come as a growing body of research has revealed that more than 40 percent of

insect pollinators are highly threatened globally, including many of the native bees critical to

unprompted crop and wildflower pollination across the United States.

To assess current population trends and threats as comprehensibly as possible for the 4,337 described

species of North American and Hawaiian bees, Center staff reviewed the current conservation status of

316 species as established by state, federal or independent research. We then conducted a

comprehensive review of all available literature on native bees to determine a status for an additional

1,121 species.

“We’re on the verge of losing hundreds of native bee species in the United States if we don’t act to save

them,” said Kopec, who spent more than a year analyzing the data. “Almost 90 percent of wild plants

are dependent on insect pollination. If we don’t act to save these remarkable creatures, our world will be

a less colorful and more lonesome place.”

The assessment highlights five imperiled native bees that offer a vivid snapshot of the unchecked threats

driving declines in many native bee species:

Yellow carpet solitary bee: This dark, olive-green bee, whose fate is intertwined with its floral host and

California’s dwindling vernal pools, is severely threatened with extinction.

Sunflower leafcutting bee: This spectacularly large bee used to be seen patrolling sunflower stands

throughout the Great Plains; it is now in steep decline and rarely seen.

Wild sweet potato bee: Known for its unique three-lobed snout, this bee, once commonly seen foraging

across much of the East, is now dangerously imperiled.

Gulf Coast solitary bee: Completely dependent on the disappearing coastal plain honeycombhead plant

and the barrier-island sand dunes where it nests, this bee is now found only within a shrinking portion of

its range along the Gulf Coast.

Macropis cuckoo bee: This nest invader, which takes over the nests of other bee species to lay its eggs,

was once common across much of central and eastern North America but is now considered that

region’s most endangered bee. READ THE FULL REPORT at the following link

http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/native_pollinators/pdfs/Pollinators_in_Peril.pdf

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Our Outreach

The Pollinator Stewardship Council has attended the national bee conference, the Georgia Beekeepers

Assn. Conference, the Indiana Bee School, gave a local bee school presentation, and worked with a state

bee association on their strategic planning, all since January. Working an average of 58.66 hours per

week the Program Director spoke with 870 people total at those events. Serving as a resource the

Program Director provided referrals for:

o as a reference for a beekeeper member to care for bees at a local school

o State Pollinator Protection Plans

o pollinator habitat information and referrals to 3 people in Wisconsin, Ohio, Missouri

o bee kill info/reports to TN and CA beekeepers

o provide nonprofit information to 3 groups

o create MP3 essay information pages for website; create a presentation to students; reply

to 4 student questions online and via telephone

o provide resource information about the MP3 essay contest to State Beekeeping leaders to

share with their 4-H students

o Create power pt. slides and secure research links and info for a member’s presentation on

“noxious weeds”

o provide information about our work to Holden Arboretum for program

o refer Wisconsin advocate to Creative Discovery Museum in TN for children’s activities

and pollinators

We are here for our members. Join us, collaborate with us,

together we will make a difference!

Become a member online today at http://pollinatorstewardship.org/?page_id=3603

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Take Action for honey labels by March 6th

for details go to

http://pollinatorstewardship.org/?page_id=5167

Honey Bee Health Coalition: Invests in Areas of Agreement By Julie Shapiro

The Honey Bee Health Coalition is a broad coalition of more than 40 North American companies and

organizations — including beekeepers, farmers, researchers, conservation organizations, agribusinesses

and government agencies — developing and implementing science-based strategies to support honey

bee health.

The Coalition has been hard at work since mid-2014. In that time, the Coalition has

developed a series of invaluable tools and informational resources to help beekeepers

and others confront the primary drivers of recent colony losses: incidental pesticide

exposure, pests and disease and a lack of forage and nutrition.

Keystone Policy Center, a nationally recognized nonprofit, has guided the Coalition

and helped its members focus on collaborative, action-oriented solutions. Keystone has

worked with diverse coalitions in a variety of policy areas over its more than four decades of work,

including climate change, agricultural sustainability, chemical weapons disposal, public health, and

energy development. Keystone has brought its dedication to independence and collaboration to the

Coalition.

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Guiding Principles

The Coalition’s charter borrows from Keystone’s work with numerous coalitions, including a dedication

to science-based decision making and deliberation. The charter underscores the Coalition’s commitment

to represent all of its members, which range from small associations to large companies working in

beekeeping, agriculture, farming, and conservation. The Coalition’s charter is emphatic that members’

voices are not weighted based on their financial contributions to support its work; rather, the Coalition

values each member for their substantive input and collaborative steps to support honey bee health.

Regardless of level of financial or in-kind support, each member organization has an equal voice in the

Coalition’s consensus-based decision-making process. It is through this consensus process that members

identify priorities and initiatives to work on together.

The Coalition’s members might not agree on everything — in fact, they may disagree on particular

issues — but they understand that investing in areas of agreement can yield tremendous progress and

support honey bee and pollinator health. To learn more about the Coalition visit

honeybeehealthcoalition.org.

Shapiro is the facilitator of the Honey Bee Health Coalition and a senior policy director at the Keystone Policy

Center, a nationally recognized nonprofit working to find collaborative, actionable solutions to public policy

challenges. Keystone operates under a statement of independence to serve all of its project participants.

Read more at

http://www.ipbes.net/sites/default/files/downloads/pdf/spm_deliverable_3a_pollination_20161124.

pdf

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Research

Learn more at http://www.xerces.org/wp-

content/uploads/2016/10/HowNeonicsCanKillBees_XercesSociety_Nov2016.pdf

We are a member of the Honey Bee Health Coalition

Videos Complement Coalition’s Tools for Varroa Management Guide, Provides Step-By-

Step Demonstrations of Utilizing an Integrated Pest Management Strategy of Monitoring

and Treatment

HBHC Varroa videos:

Varroa mite PSA - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4titRjZuOQ

Video 1 - IPM - https://youtu.be/aFlLPZ5KbgU

Video 2 & 3 - Sampling methods - https://youtu.be/IgPfT9FQxLc

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Video 4 - Essential oils - https://youtu.be/fsn0RurGz10

Video 5 - Using Apivar - https://youtu.be/pCq_Pu1iFeo

Video 6 - Using Apistan or Checkmite+ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsbY1nuUReY

Video 7 - Formic acid - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PK5BTjexSs

Video 8 - Using HopGuard - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOlafuIBBf0&t=8s

Video 9 - Using Oxalic Acid - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp-9eD3Sgww

Video 10 - Using sanitation, screen bottoms - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7Axpy5JVDc

Video 11 - Using drone brood removal - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j17AStzxEgs

Video 12 - Using requeening - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnPBIStvC60

Tools for Varroa Management http://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/varroa/

Quick Guide to Reporting A Bee Kill http://pollinatorstewardship.org/?page_id=3292

Beekeeper Guide http://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/tools-and-resources/#hm

Grower Guide http://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/tools-and-resources/#hm

Bee Healthy Roadmap http://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Bee-Healthy-Roadmap-October-2014.pdf . The Bee Understanding Project-. View the first film at this link https://vimeo.com/149238870

Seeds for spring flowers for honey bees!

Pollinator Stewardship Council has partnered with Ohio Prairie

Nursery in support of pollinator habitat. You can get native seeds

for eastern U.S. planting zones here. Select “Support our

Cause” (http://www.ohioprairienursery.com/?ref=pollsteco) to

view featured seed selections to benefit pollinators. A portion of

sales generated from our website will help support our work.

Seeds for honey bees WEST of the Mississippi

To increase plant biodiversity, improve gardens yields,

and make a positive difference for the future, plant for

pollinators WEST of the Mississippi with bbbseed. The

Plant for Pollinators Project, developed by bbbseed, offers a

discount on their pollinator mixes. Go to their website, find

and enter the discount code, and Plant For Pollinators! https://www.bbbseed.com/articles/plant-for-pollinators-

project/

Pollinator Stewardship Council 1624 Idlewood Ave., Akron, OH 44313

832-727-9492 www.pollinatorstewardship.org We are also on

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We are member supported! The Pollinator Stewardship Council is a nonprofit organization; donations are tax deductible.

View our 2016 Annual Report at http://pollinatorstewardship.org/?page_id=883

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Together we make a difference for beekeeping, for pollinators,

for a sustainable and affordable food supply.

Your membership and donations support our work to protect managed and native pollinators from the

adverse impact of pesticides. Please become a member or make your tax deductible donation today!

Complete this form and mail your check to the address listed, or go online today to

http://pollinatorstewardship.org/?page_id=3603

Name_____________________________________________________________

Address___________________________________________________________

City____________________________________________________State_____ Zip________________

Phone________________________ E-mail ________________________________________________

Website_______________________________________________________________________

POLLINATOR PARTNERS

___ $25 individual, non-beekeeper For a single individual (not a student, not a beekeeper) Member Benefits: bi-

monthly newsletter, participation in advocacy actions

___ $10 students K-college; university & govt. scientist For K-college, university or govt. scientists’ Member

Benefits: bi-monthly newsletter, participation in advocacy actions

___ $50 nonprofit partners with similar missions For valid nonprofit organizations with similar missions,

Nonprofit Partners’ Member Benefits: bi-monthly newsletter, participation in advocacy actions, support letters for their

advocacy (unless in direct conflict with PSC mission); possible collaborative programs, member’s logo and weblink posted

on PSC member page of website and newsletter

___ $500 BEEKEEPING SUPPLIER PARTNER For Beekeeping equipment suppliers, producer /manufacturer

of beekeeping services (pollination brokers, pest/pathogen pollinator health products, beekeeping insurance, beekeeping

book publishers, etc.) Beekeeping Supplier Partners’ Member Benefits: bi-monthly newsletter, participation in advocacy

actions; possible collaborative programs, article about Beekeeping Supplier Partner in member newsletter

annually, Beekeeping Supplier Partner logo and weblink posted on PSC member page of website and newsletter

___ $1,000 agricultural stakeholder partners with budgets $1M+ For grower groups, garden groups, pollinator

groups, farm cooperatives, food wholesalers/retailers Agricultural stakeholder partners’ Member Benefits: bi-monthly

newsletter, participation in advocacy actions, possible collaborative programs, presentation at member’s conference or

similar about the work of PSC; member’s logo and weblink posted on PSC Home page of website and newsletter

BEEKEEPERS

___ $25 individual beekeeper with 25 or less hives Member benefits: bi-monthly newsletter, participation in

advocacy actions, assistance in filing bee kill reports

___ $75 individual beekeeper with 26- 300 hives Member Benefits:bi-monthly newsletter, participation in

advocacy actions, possible collaborative programs, member’s logo and weblink posted on PSC Home page of website,

assistance in filing bee kill reports.

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___ $ 1.00 per hive for commercial beekeepers with 301+ hives Member Benefits: bi-monthly newsletter,

participation in advocacy actions, Company name/logo and weblink of commercial beekeeper posted on PSC Home page of

website and in newsletter, assistance with a singular research or presentation project for the beekeeper, assistance in filing

bee kill reports, one lab analysis of hive products (in association with Pesticide Research Institute).

BEEKEEPING ASSOCIATIONS

___ $ 100 for a local beekeeping assn. with 10-50 members Member Benefits: bi-monthly newsletter,

participation in advocacy actions, Club’s name listed on PSC website as a member, one presentation by PSC staff or Board

member in person or via skype (dependent upon schedules and distance-travel expenses not included).

___ $ 200 for a local beekeeping assn. with 51-100 members Member Benefits: bi-monthly newsletter,

participation in advocacy actions, Club’s name listed on PSC website as a member, one presentation by PSC staff or Board

member in person or via skype (dependent upon schedules and distance- travel expenses not included), assistance with a

singular research or presentation project for the club or a club member.

___ $ 250 for a local beekeeping assn. with 101-300 members Member Benefits:bi-monthly newsletter,

participation in advocacy actions, Club’sname listed on PSC website as a member, one presentation by PSC staff or Board

member in person or via skype (dependent upon schedules and distance-travel expenses not included), assistance with a

singular research or presentation project for the club or a club member, assist with grant writing/research for a local project.

___ $ 500 for a State/Regional Beekeeping Assn., and beekeeping clubs of 301+ members Member

Benefits: bi-monthly newsletter, participation in advocacy actions, State/Regional group’s logo and

weblink posted on PSC Home page of website and in newsletter, one to three presentations at the

State/regional beekeeping group conference or similar (travel expenses not included), assistance with a

singular research or presentation project for the association, assist with grant writing/research for a local

project, support through PSC advocacy software of state legislative issues, assist with nonprofit

development.

_____ I wish to make a charitable contribution to support your education, advocacy, and action work

in support of managed and native pollinators. My donation of $___________ is enclosed

I would like to charge my membership / contribution to:

___Visa ___MC ___Disc ___ AmEx Signature_________________________________________

Number __________________________________Expiration Date _________ Security Code_______

Please mail this completed donation form and your check made out to the:

Pollinator Stewardship Council, 1624 Idlewood Ave., Akron, OH 44313

832-727-9492 www.pollinatorstewardship.org

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE APPLICABLE

REGULATORY DEPARTMENT/ DIVISION WITHIN EACH STATE (LISTED BELOW) BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE.

REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. For more information go to

http://pollinatorstewardship.org/?page_id=5048

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Pollinator Stewardship Council 1624 Idlewood Ave. Akron, OH 44313

Beekeepers Working for Beekeepers

The Board and Program Director are all beekeepers.

We work to:

Raise awareness about the adverse impact of pesticides on pollinators critical to the supply of food

and the ecosystem.

Provide advocacy, guidance, and tools to document the detrimental effect of pesticides on

pollinators.

Affect regulatory processes of pesticide risk assessment, label, and enforcement.