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When we think of pollinators, the communal honeybees, introduced by European settlers, often come to mind. Important as they are to our agricultural economy, our native pollinators play an equally important role. The solitary leafcutting bees are frequent visitors to our "insect hotels" on campus.
(Photo courtesy Granthamecology.org)
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The leafcutting bees are important native pollinators of North America, pollinating wildflowers, fruits, vegetables and other crops. Some leafcutting bees of the Osmia spp. are even used as commercial pollinators (like honey bees) in crops such as blueberries, onions, carrots and alfalfa.
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As their name implies, leafcutting bees cut leaves in a distinctive, circular manner, making a smooth semicircular cut about 3/4 inch in diameter from the edge of leaves. Although they cut many types of leaves, leafcutter bees prefer certain types, notably rose, green ash, lilac and Virginia creeper. (Photo courtesy pipsbop.org)
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Leafcutter bees nest in soft, rotted wood; thick-stemmed, pithy plants and in similar materials that the bees can easily cut through and excavate. Nest tunnels may extend several inches deep They construct cigar-like nests that contain several cells and a finished nest tunnel may contain a dozen or more cells forming a tube 4 to 8 inches long.
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(Photo above by Rod Tuk, photo below right by Ian Driscoll)
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Nests are constructed in soil, holes in wood (usually made by other insects), and in plant stems. Nest tunnels may extend several inches deep. Other cavities that make good nests include shells of dead snails, holes in concrete walls, and other holes in human-made objects, like insect hotels--check out the green plugs in the photo.
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Each cell contains a ball or loaf of stored pollen and a single egg, which will hatch a single bee. The young bees develop and remain within the cells, consuming the food their Moms left for them. Most leafcutter bees overwinter in these nests as newly formed adults. In the following spring these adults chew their way out of the nest.
Check to see if any of these solitary bees has "made the cut" in your garden!
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2022 Pollinator Photo Contest! |
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The Environmental Interpretive Center is now accepting entries in its 3rd annual Pollinator Photo Contest!
The University of Michigan-Dearborn has been certified as a Bee Campus USA affiliate by the Xerces Society since 2019 for its efforts to promote pollinator education and conservation.
Following the success of the first two contests, the EIC is once again sponsoring a photo contest featuring pollinators and their flowering plants, such as 2021 Award Winner Jonathon Maurice's "At Work." (above)
Visit the Pollinator Photo Contest website for more information and submission guidelines. You can also enjoy previous years' submissions set to music in videos compiled by Dr. David Susko. We look forward to viewing your submissions!
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The Dearborn-SHINES Garden Program added 8 more schools last year, including Stout Middle School. Dr. David Susko designed and built their soon-to-be installed insect hotel (pictured right) respresenting their "Stout Strong" school pride. What pollinators might make the Stout "letter S" their home only time will tell....
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Young Naturalists Program
After a 2-year wait, our staff is excited to be offering the 9-month Young Naturalist Program once again. Children ages 9-12 will join their peers in exploring the natural world in a series of hands-on program sessions, September through May. All but one session will take place from 9:30AM to 12PM on one Saturday per month.
Various session topics will include pond study, maple sugaring, wildflowers and trees, insects and spiders, birds and migration, creatures of the soil, and owl prowl. We will also be on hand to enjoy and note the changes in nature through the seasons. Experienced naturalists will lead all the sessions.
This program is tailored for children who have a strong interest and curiosity about the natural world and who wish to explore nature outdoors within a mutually supportive peer setting.
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Home School Programs
The Environmental Interpretive Center welcomes families who pursue homeschool education for their children. In addition to single visit programs for all ages and grade levels, which can be requested by going here, the Center will be offering a 9-month program series for elementary school children that meets once a month, as well as 9-month, in-depth program for secondary school students that meets weekly. Register here for the homeschool programs.
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We Have Good News and Bad News-but for a good reason!
The "I Wonder" Walks offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays since November have been a wonderful way to reenter in-person programming. We now need to pause these walks because we are so busy welcoming school groups and the public back to the EIC!
If you are interested in scheduling a group program, please visit our website and contact Dale Browne for further details.
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Children's Gardening Program |
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Children's Garden Program Coordinator Dale Browne reports: "We have planted tomatoes, carrots, radishes, beets, arugula and kale. We also have a shared bed where we planted cilantro, chives, sage, and strawberries."
Most weeks we learn about gardening concepts like germination and got to see seeds sprout in a paper towel. We also learned about what makes a fruit a fruit (seeds) and how they grow from flowers and why they need pollination." We identified what parts of the plant different veggies are (do we eat the root, fruit, leaves, or seeds?).
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Their most recent session (June 21) was held inside the EIC lab because temperatures in the garden were close to 100 degrees F. Dale shifted gears and held a special session, looking at different soil types under the microscope. "We learned about and got to observe the components of soil (sand/silt/clay, water, air spaces, organic matter, and macro/micro organisms). We also focus on the fact that the garden is a community space, so we share garden chores like watering and weeding and the kids are so helpful when others need a hand."
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Lend a Hand on Stewardship Saturdays! |
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Stewardship Saturdays will take place from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm on the third Saturday of the month. Pick one or more days to come out and help.
This year-round, ongoing effort will help address the many threats posed by various invasive plants to the continuation of habitat health and quality. Each month will bring opportunities for optimal removal of various invasive plants according to current best management practices, etc.
Children must be at least 10 years of age to participate. For more information or to register for Stewardship Saturdays, please contact Rick Simek, the EIC Natural Areas Manager, at rsimek@umich.edu or call 313-583-6371.
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Bugging Out at the Refuge!
Date: Sunday, July 24th
Time: 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Leaders: DRIWR, BttLC & Detroit Audubon
Fee: Free!
Join your EIC friends at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge's (DRIWR) Humbug Marsh on Sunday, July 24, in partnership with the Detroit Audubon Society and Black to the Land Coalition (BttLC), for a jam packed event filled with all things BUG! We’ll have crafts, opportunities to interact with live bugs and chances to learn about what you can do at home to help bugs and other pollinators. Then join us for a guided walk around Humbug Marsh as we search for dragonflies, butterflies and other native insects.
Photo by Ken Nietering
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Venturing outdoors and encountering nature is good for your health. Our trails are accessible daily from sunrise to sunset, so please visit our Environmental Study Area. Check out our Remote Learning Activities & Resources page for ideas to create a “Neighborhood Nature Journal” and “Family Nature Walk” activities!
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Please stay safe, stay tuned, and stay engaged in learning activities while we eagerly wait for the opportunities to share experiences together. In the meantime, watch for our new online activities to satisfy your curiosity about the natural world. |
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