Bees Placed On Endangered Species List

[mr.d]

Bees placed on endangered species list -- a first in the US

 

Effective Oct. 31, seven species officially at risk

 UPDATED 3:24 AM EDT Oct 01, 2016

 

 

Rich Brooks/CNN

Photo

 

(CNN)

[Petee]

Finally, the money is on their side.

[spaghettiwasted]

If we lose bees, we are in serious trouble.

I encourage everyone to research ways to help.

Planting bee-friendly flowers, buying local organic honey, setting up a bee watering station in your yard, even donating to bee protection societies... we need these little guys around.

[Petee]

Bees not only pollinate most of the huge factory farms but they improve the quality of crops.  They depend on the domesticated bees for a larger harvest.

 

For the home gardener, stop spraying pesticides and learn to deal with insects naturally.  If you have an acre or more then ask a beekeeper if they would like to situate a hive there.

[Dobby]

How can I help from my house?

[Petee]

Please don't spray anything where wild bees might congregate.  Grow a pollinator garden and provide water near it.  If you need assistance choosing which plants to grow, check here:

 

http://ento.psu.edu/pollinators/public-outreach/cert

 

That's the best that any homeowner can do for them besides contacting their legislators to stop all of the indiscriminate spraying of herbicides and pesticides.

[spaghettiwasted]

What Petee said. Any help is good help though, even something small like setting up a little watering station in your yard (any kind of shallow container with water in it, and rocks, marbles, etc. to give them something to sit on.)

[soccermom]

Did you read that crock of BS put out by the government?

 

Your own government is killing them by allowing the massive use of insecticides and herbicides, which benefits certain industries. Here is but one example:

 

[soccermom]

People need to help save the bees, but, at the same time, they need to start fighting back against corporate owned America.

[Petee]

Did you read that crock of BS put out by the government?

 

Your own government is killing them by allowing the massive use of insecticides and herbicides, which benefits certain industries. Here is but one example:

 

[Jay]

We are told not to leave standing water so mosquitos don't breed and then we are told to set out watering stations for the bees.  It is hard to know what is best.

Our Russian Sage was absolutely covered with bees this summer so that is probably a good plant to have if you want bees.

[lavender]

It isn't a "politically correct" plant but lambs ears (Stachys byzantina) attracts bees. It was so full of them that I hated to cut it back this year. To be fair there are various factors in the decline of the honey bee population. It is not just pesticides but diseases, as well. Honey bees are not native to North America and, while they have been here since colonial times, there may be factors involved that have not yet been considered.  We hear nothing of other (native) types of bees being wiped out and there are somewhere around 4,000 species of native bees in North America.

[Petee]

We are told not to leave standing water so mosquitos don't breed and then we are told to set out watering stations for the bees.  It is hard to know what is best.

Our Russian Sage was absolutely covered with bees this summer so that is probably a good plant to have if you want bees.

 

Just don't let it sit for days.  A small saucer that is easily filled is plenty.  The bees will find it.

 

From Orkin:

The length of the mosquito life cycle varies between species and is dependent upon environmental conditions such as temperature and moisture. However, the life cycle of all mosquitoes is comprised of the egg, larval, pupal and adult stages.

Male mosquitoes feed on plant nectar alone, while females extract the blood of hosts in order to develop and nourish eggs. Most mosquitoes lay their eggs directly into water. Others lay their eggs near bodies of water but not within them.

Eggs will hatch into larvae within 24 to 48 hours. Larvae soon grow to become approximately 5 mm in length. Most larvae breathe through air tubes. Larger larvae can be seen floating just above the surface of infested waters.

Within seven to 10 days, larvae enter the pupal stage. Pupae are also visible upon the surface of the breeding site. After a mosquito is fully developed, it will emerge as an adult from its pupal case. At this time, the new adult stands upon the water and dries its wings to prepare for flight. Adult female mosquitoes will then seek an animal on which to feed. Females are capable of flying for miles if necessary and can lay over 100 eggs at a time.

Larvae and pupae usually cannot survive without water. If a water source evaporates before the larvae and pupae within it transform into adult mosquitoes, those young often will die.

[Petee]

This is an exceptionally good link:  http://ento.psu.edu/pollinators/public-outreach/cert/cert-steps-step1

 

The worthlessness of spraying is that the mosquitoes don't stay local but some chemicals can last forever.