CATTLEMEN CATTLEMEN generations
serving for
tention, there are actually several hundred bee species that are native to Texas. These include bumblebees, carpenter bees, mason bees, leafcutter bees, long-horned bees and many others. These native bee species were here long before the honeybee and are critical to the state’s diverse native plant communities and agricul- tural production. Of all the insects that visit fl owers in Texas, includ-
ing beetles, butterfl ies, moths and wasps, bees tend to be the most effective pollinators. Two traits make bees preeminent pollinators: First, they purposefully col- lect pollen to feed their offspring, transferring pollen from fl ower to fl ower as they forage. During a single day, a female bee may visit several hundred fl owers, depositing pollen along the way. Second, bees tend to be specifi c about the fl owers they visit. During a forag- ing trip, a female bee may only visit the fl owers of a particular plant species. The benefi t of such foraging preferences is that the plants’ pollen is not deposited on the fl owers of a different plant species and wasted. Native bee pollination is critical to the maintenance
of Texas’ diverse ecosystems. Many of the berries, nuts and seeds consumed by birds, mammals and other in- sects are the result of bee pollination of native woody and herbaceous plants. Several crops, including blue- berries, grapes, olives, peanuts, pumpkins, squash, strawberries and tomatoes are more effectively pol- linated by native bees than the non-native honeybee. The added benefi t to farmers from native bees is that their services are essentially free if adequate natural habitat is maintained around farm fi elds to support healthy populations of these pollinators. The pollina- tion service provided to U.S. agriculture by native bees has been estimated in excess of $3 billion annually. For additional information, please contact Michael
Warriner, Nongame and Rare Species Program leader, at
michael.warriner@tpwd.texas.gov.
tscra.org to come...
(405) 262-8800 •
www.okcwest.com July 2016 The Cattleman 63
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