Managing Alternative Pollinators
A Handbook for Beekeepers, Growers and Conservationists
NRAES 186
SARE Handbook 11
For Beekeepers: Detailed information on each alternative pollinator's biology and susceptibility to disease, pests and chemicals, as well as step-by-step instructions on how to rear and manage alternative pollinators.
For Growers: Guidance for understanding the business of pollination, matching pollinators to crops, and deciding how best to pollinate for successful agricultural production and pollinator protection.
For Conservationists: Easy-to-understand accounts of the honey bee's plight, the business of pollination, and what can be done to protect pollinators and our food systems.
The book features 130+ color photos, 10 chapters, 7 appendices, nest construction details, parasite and disease management guidelines and a sample contract. Includes a bibliography and list of additional resources.
This book was produced with support from the US Department of Agriculture's Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. For more information about SARE, visit www.sare.org. Or, to download a description of SARE, click here.
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Table of contents | List of tables | Authors | Expected outcomes | Detailed Outline | Sample pages |
Table of Contents
Foreword
Chapter 1. The Business of Pollination
Chapter 2. The Status of the European Honey Bee in the U.S.
Chapter 3. A Brief Natural History of Bees
Chapter 4. Pollination Botany
Chapter 5. Bumble Bees
Chapter 6. Mason Bees
Chapter 7. The Alfalfa Leafcutter Bee
Chapter 8. Other Managed Pollinators
Chapter 9. The Search for New Managed Pollinators
Chapter 10. Habitat Conservation for Native Pollinators
Appendix A. Managing Parasites and Disease in Solitary Bee Operations
Appendix B. X-Ray Procedures for Cavity Nesting Bees
Appendix C. Plants for Bee Ranching
Appendix D. Reducing Bee Poisoning from Pesticides
Appendix E. Hybrid Nest Blocks for Cavity Nesting Bees
Appendix F. Nest Material Comparison for Leafcutter and Mason Bees
Appendix G. IPM for Beekeepers
Appendix H. Additional Resources
Bibliography
Pollination Costs for Various Bee Species Pollinator Syndromes
Bumble Bee Pests and Parasites
Mason Bee Management Timeline for Northern States
Identifying Cavity-Nestting Bees by Nest Construction
Some Native Perrennials for Attracting Wild Pollinators
Agricultural Chemicals Highly Toxic to Bees
Agricultural Chemicals with Low Toxicity to Bees
Nest Material Comparison for Leafcutter and
Mason Bees
Authors
Eric Mader, Pollinator Outreach Coordinator, The Xerces Society Pollinator Conservation Program
Marla Spivak, Professor of Entomology, University of Minnesota
Elaine Evans, Author, Befriending Bumble Bees
With a forward by Mace Vaughan, Conservation Director, The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
Expected Outcomes
Knowledge of how to rear alternative pollinators, including leafcutter bees, mason bees and bumble bees for pollination
Appreciation of the importance of rearing only local pollinators to avoid movement of species outside their native ranges
Understand the critical use of sanitary practices to discourage the development and spread of diseases and parasites.
Ability
to directly improve the quality of our food supply and aesthetics of
our landscapes through pollination of fruits, nuts, vegetables and
flowers
Positively impact biodiversity and ecological services in our environment
Understand
the broad ecological issues affecting both managed and wild
pollinators, and how to implement conservation practices to support
them.
