Showing posts with label Bees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bees. Show all posts

Monday, June 20, 2011

Bee Identification Guide Project Receives Funding to Cover Western Species

Labeled bee specimen
collected
 in Lovettsville, VA.
Photo: Elizabeth
Sellers, USGS.
The Polistes Foundation, with oversight by Sam Droege and Michael Orr from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), received $50,000 in funds to create extended identification guides for bees to include the Western United States and Canada from the Vetlesen Foundation.  Identification of the United State's 4000 species of native bees is unusually tricky.  Approximately 400 species  haven't been described by science and many are so poorly known that identification is problematic.   Furthermore, no field guide or uniform technical guide exists for bees, thus for researchers, naturalists, and biologists, identification of the bees they study is their most difficult task.  These funds will make their jobs just a bit easier. To learn more about this project visit the Pollinator Project Web site.

Friday, May 20, 2011

USGS Scientist Participates in Loudoun County, VA, Board of Supervisors Meeting

On June 6, Elizabeth Sellers, Manager – USGS Pollinator Project, will represent the group informally known as the “Bee Team” at a Loudoun County Board of Supervisors meeting. The meeting will be dedicated to recognizing the importance of pollinators (which include bees) as well as noting the state of Virginia’s declaration of National Pollinator Week (June 20-26). Ms. Sellers and the “Bee Team” are currently carrying out the Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve Bee Inventory.  Objectives of the inventory include: (1) assess species diversity of this Loudoun County preserve; (2) evaluate the effectiveness of the sampling methodology; and (3) evaluate the feasibility of conducting this type of survey as a citizen science project. The survey was initiated in 2010 with help from Sam Droege of the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Native Bee Lab. The survey will be completed in October 2011.

(Photo: A male Agapostomen splendens: A bee of sandy areas also known as the "sweat bee." Photographer: Natalie Allen and Stephanie Kolski, U.S. Geological Survey)

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

USGS Scientist to Help Develop Bumble Bee Conservation and Research Strategy

USGS Core Science Systems scientist and manager of the Pollinators Project of the National Biological Information Infrastructure program, Elizabeth Sellers, will participate in an invitation-only IUCN North American Bumble Bee Species Conservation Strategy workshop in St. Louis, MO, on November 9-12, 2010. Bumble bees are among the most important wild pollinators in both agricultural and natural ecosystems. The population declines that have been noted in several species of formerly common North American bumble bees underscore the need to develop a coordinated conservation and research strategy. Facilitated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, the main goal of the workshop is to develop a comprehensive strategy that will direct future research and conservation work on imperiled North American bumble bees.

(Photo: Bumblebee (Bombus sp.) on a dame's rocket flower.  Credit: Elizabeth A. Sellers /life.nbii.gov)

Friday, September 10, 2010

Discover Life’s Video of Bee Hunt Project Data Collection Protocol


There’s a new five-minute online video describing how to take scientifically useful photographs of insects. Whether for invasive species data collection or pollinator studies, Discover Life’s video shows how to take more effective photographs in the field. Thanks to their partnership with the NBII’s Invasive Species Information Node (ISIN), all of Discover Life’s tools are free via the Web. They are rallying citizen scientists to monitor bees, fungi, lichens, ladybugs, moths, butterflies, caterpillars, and goldenrods. The video can be viewed online at the Discover Life Web site.

(Photo: Honey bee (Apis mellifera) on a daisy in Africa.  Credit: Elizabeth A. Sellers /life.nbii.gov)

Tuesday, July 6, 2010

Invasive Species, Pollinators, and the Encyclopedia of Life (EoL)


USGS biological informatics scientists Elizabeth Sellers (NBII Invasive Species, Pollinators), Annie Simpson (NBII Invasive Species), and Gerald Guala (Integrated Taxonomic Information System, botany) have been invited to contribute their expertise on invasive species, pollinators, and botany at the Encyclopedia of Life's Taxonomic Triage Workshop, July 7-8 at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. The workshop will inform and improve the EOL’s ability to prioritize content acquisition in the coming year and beyond. In particular, Ms. Simpson and Ms. Sellers will assist EOL in identifying key species and information gaps and priorities in EOL's taxonomic coverage of invasive and pollinating species - two groups for which more species information is needed for effective management and control in the case of invasive species; and for conservation in the case of pollinators, many of which are showing marked population decreases. Dr. Guala will provide his botanical and taxonomic expertise toward the overall task of determining what content is required for a rich species page and which vascular plant groups are a priority for inclusion in EOL.

Photo: Neon Cuckoo Bee (Thyreus nitidulus). © Elizabeth Sellers 2009).

Friday, June 25, 2010

National Pollinator Week Exhibit all the "Buzz"

During the Inter-departmental National Pollinator Week Exhibit hosted on June 21, 2010 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists Steve Hilburger (Program Analyst, USGS Wildlife Program), Sam Droege (Wildlife Biologist, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and Coordinator of the USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Laboratory), and Elizabeth Sellers (Manager, Pollinators Project of the USGS National Biological Information Infrastructure) showcased examples of USGS pollinator research and biological informatics tools. The USGS-NBII exhibit included information about the Butterflies and Moths of North America database, the NBII Pollinators project, and the Integrated Taxonomic Information System’s 2009 World Bees Checklist; fact sheets about other relevant USGS research and technologies, and copies of the 2009 and 2010 pollinator posters whose printing was co-funded by the USGS.

Our scientists and those from other federal agencies such as USDA, EPA, FWS, BLM, and NASA and from nonprofit organizations such as the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation spoke to many people about pollinator research and conservation. Many of the visitors to the exhibits also attended a panel discussion on pollinators that was hosted earlier in the day by the USDA. Booth visitors included members of the public (tourists, DC residents, university students, homeowners, and children of all ages), who were visiting the National Mall and other attractions; staff members of other federal agencies; and educators from various institutions. Some visitors stayed at the booth for up to 20 minutes asking questions on a variety of topics, such as how to distinguish bees from flies and other insects; how to attract more or specific species of pollinators to their gardens; and what research is being done or what information is available on wild and managed pollinator species. National Pollinator Week continues through June 27th. To learn more about National Pollinator Week and what you can do to learn more about pollinators, visit the Pollinator Partnership’s Web site - http://www.pollinator.org/.

(Top photo: pictured from left to right: Laurie Adams (The Pollinator Partnership (P2); Steve Hilburger (USGS Wildlife Program); Elizabeth Sellers (NBII Pollinators Project); Sam Droege (USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab). Photo by © 2010 Thomas Van Arsdall, used with permission; Lower photo: examples of USGS pollinator research and biological informatics tools being displayed at the USGS booth. Photo: Elizabeth A. Sellers/NBII).

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Calling All Shutterbugs: Go On Safari for Pollinators

Did you know that roughly one-third of the food you eat requires insect pollination? However, bees and other pollinators face increasing risk from pesticide use, habitat loss, climate change and diseases. You can help scientists find out more about how bees are doing by taking digital photographs for “Bee Hunt.” This citizen science project is part of Discover Life, a key partner of the USGS-NBII Invasive Species Information Node. So go grab your pith helmet, watch a short video describing how to take photographs in the field, and join Discover Life for an exciting small-scale safari. Discover Life is also rallying citizen scientists to monitor plants, fungi, lichens, ladybugs, moths, butterflies, caterpillars and other critters. For more information, contact Nancy Lowe at nancy@discoverlife.org.

Photograph by © Sam Pickering, 2006-2008. Wheel bug nails non-native bee (Arilus cristatus).

USGS Pollinator Research and Bioinformatics Showcase on the National Mall

resin_bee2 by you.U.S. Geological Survey  (USGS) Scientists Steve Hilburger (Program Analyst, USGS Wildlife Program), Sam Droege (Wildlife Biologist, USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and Coordinator of the USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Laboratory), and Elizabeth Sellers (Manager, Pollinators Project of the USGS National Biological Information Infrastructure) will showcase examples of USGS pollinator research and biological informatics tools at the Inter-departmental National Pollinator Week Exhibit hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) beside the National Mall (adjacent to the USDA People's Garden) in Washington D.C. on June 21, 2010. This event builds on the cooperative energy initiated at an inter-departmental pollinator collaboration meeting hosted by USDA in March, and provides an opportunity for more pollinator-related information exchange and discussion among Federal agencies and with the public.  National Pollinator Week is from June 21-27, 2010.

(Photo: Giant resin bee (Megachile sculpturalis) on thistle. Franklin Park, Purcellville, VA.  © Elizabeth Sellers 2009).

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

"The Very Handy Manual: How to Catch and Identify Bees and Manage a Collection" is Now Available

The latest edition (March, 2010) of "The Very Handy Manual: How to Catch and Identify Bees and Manage a Collection" is now available.

Compiled mainly by Sam Droege at the USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab with input from specialist researchers and taxonomists over several years from 2004-present, this guide provides detailed instructions on bee monitoring techniques including specimen collection, processing and management; bee identification; and more! The manual also provides guidance on the capture, monitoring, identification, and curation of native bees.

The NBII Pollinators Project coordinates and supports pollinator-related biological informatics projects carried out by the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) and its partners, and provides in-kind support to ventures that benefit pollinators by improving pollinator data delivery and access, and developing decision support tools for resource managers.

You can also subscribe to Sam Droege's Youtube channel and learn How to Dry Bee Specimens, one of the handy techniques described in the manual.

Photo: Honeybee and Purple aster (Apis mellifera, Aster sp.) - A honeybee feeds on purple aster flowers.  Photo credit: Elizabeth A. Sellers.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Plight of the Bumble Bees

Celebrate National Pollinator Week, June 22-28!
Sponsored by the US Geological Survey, Smithsonian Institution, National Biological Information Infrastructure, Pollinator Partnership, and Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS).

The USGS-NBII is co-sponsoring two events for pollinators: a public symposium, Plight of the Bumble Bees, on June 22 at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C. The symposium will be followed by a two-day workshop in which world experts will discuss potential threats to bumble bees. For more information, visit http://pollinators.iabin.net/documents/PlightoftheBumbleBees09.pdf.

Host: Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History
Date:
Monday, June 22, 2009
Time:
10:30am - 1:00pm
Location:
Baird Auditorium, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Street:
City/Town:
Washington, DC

(Photo: A bumble bee (Bombus spp.) forages for pollen on the flower of a musk or nodding thistle in an abandoned agricultural field. Photographer: Elizabeth A. Sellers, NBII)