tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73343044884865877672024-03-04T21:36:27.569-08:00PollinatorsFlowers have maintained a partnership with insect pollinators from the beginning. They are masters at attracting these love messengers and perpetuating the species through pollination. They use countless ways to accomplish this goal.Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-5360977476116507762021-08-15T14:56:00.001-07:002021-08-15T14:58:23.151-07:00Brainy Bumble Bees<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGtoCGzxwmCFc3FroDxXe1YrGZ6xPn99nEIPpDtWotZo2pkFMuGcAYtMECxvABLzfv83_EJcxxePuNMSqRon3cLWcvl0e_TNqn-4N3lLyH0Gwz2z8iYh3o6MnuGIO4wmQ-ZqQizhjTMyV/s1200/bumble+jewel.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="1200" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoGtoCGzxwmCFc3FroDxXe1YrGZ6xPn99nEIPpDtWotZo2pkFMuGcAYtMECxvABLzfv83_EJcxxePuNMSqRon3cLWcvl0e_TNqn-4N3lLyH0Gwz2z8iYh3o6MnuGIO4wmQ-ZqQizhjTMyV/w400-h133/bumble+jewel.jpg" width="400" /></a><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Bumble bee and jewelweed<span style="color: #999999;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">. © Beatriz Moisset</span></i></span></span></span><b>
</b>
</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Some of your garden visitors are
undeniably clever. Raccoons and squirrels come immediately to mind.
But, bumble bees? How could pinheaded insects be capable of any
intelligence? Those who study insects tell us that some are capable
of remembering things and, even more amazingly, of learning new
things and acting accordingly.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The one that gained a reputation as the
Einstein of the insect world is the honey bee. Books have been
written about its cleverness and the way it communicates with other
members of the colony. Some other members of the six legged crowd
also show surprising signs of memory and intelligence. Bumble bees,
close relatives of honey bees, and also living in colonies composed
of a queen and workers, are not far behind them.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">If you enjoy spending some time looking
at the visitors to your flowers, you may have a chance to see some
examples of their braininess.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisO-plhSPJ2-fX4w9x1MXa3HXkdf2_Iz5hHHXi13cAG9HFPFXDwSajNzUEsc_n1yvVGMpGIMsfq6WnHQRBh0c5QAYTujzq_CLKLpGcszx5ZX2UeiLXJyBwolugK8SC0Cyr6Sb79ior5nrk/s550/48225421w.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="452" data-original-width="550" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisO-plhSPJ2-fX4w9x1MXa3HXkdf2_Iz5hHHXi13cAG9HFPFXDwSajNzUEsc_n1yvVGMpGIMsfq6WnHQRBh0c5QAYTujzq_CLKLpGcszx5ZX2UeiLXJyBwolugK8SC0Cyr6Sb79ior5nrk/s320/48225421w.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-align: left;">A tricolored bumble bee, a regular flower visitor</span><br /><span style="color: #999999;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i>©
Beatriz Moisset</i></span></span></span>
</p><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Perhaps, one morning you step into your
garden, coffee cup in hand, and see a bumble bee on your flowers. The
scene looks familiar; you have noticed it several times before. Could
it be the very same bumble bee? There is a good chance you are
correct. She, and it is usually a she, is good at memorizing the best
business locations—the bushes or clusters of plants with abundant
flowers and plenty of valuable resources. She is probably guided by a
combination of clues to recognize the area: landmarks, the position
of the sun, smells, perhaps even the magnetic field of the earth.
Thus your friendly garden visitor develops a daily route; and even
memorizes the timing of blooming, morning or afternoon to show up
right on schedule. Researchers may learn all these things by painting
a little dot of color on the back of the bee so they can follow its
comings and goings.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5FbJ_JFC2NHgpT9OwF1ejglPHsjRV1z2HBRzfTKdtDM3pQj_dVPuYOD0hh06pMeQ1FwKT1Vzcobirdi0hATMRKl-fsaE3xkiFm3Y-yAvO9FEM1AW-p3lhPiyq59shrwAgVJsBUJPkhyq/s600/IMG_9452.8.26.07w.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="600" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW5FbJ_JFC2NHgpT9OwF1ejglPHsjRV1z2HBRzfTKdtDM3pQj_dVPuYOD0hh06pMeQ1FwKT1Vzcobirdi0hATMRKl-fsaE3xkiFm3Y-yAvO9FEM1AW-p3lhPiyq59shrwAgVJsBUJPkhyq/s320/IMG_9452.8.26.07w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering a jewelweed <i style="color: #999999; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">© Beatriz Moisset</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Another behavior worth watching is
their routine when visiting a flower. I love to see them going inside
a jewelweed and am always amazed at the speed with which they
proceed. I wish they were a little slower and allowed me to take a
few pictures. Learning how to deal with complicated flowers takes
practice. A naïve bumble bee may refine her technique with time and
the more complicated the flower, the more practice is required.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/46gHUabhyQE" width="320" youtube-src-id="46gHUabhyQE"></iframe></div><p align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="text-align: left;">Bumble bee visiting a turtlehead</span><span style="color: #999999;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><i> ©
Beatriz Moisset</i></span></span></span>
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Researchers resort to interesting
methods to unravel the mysteries of bumble bee behavior. For
instance, they glue little tags of different colors to their backs so
they can track down the activities of each individual. They test
their ability to recognize flowers by offering them artificial
flowers of different colors or different aromas; and filling only
certain ones with nectar. The student bees learn to choose the flower
of the right color or scent and bypass all others.</p><p></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Enjoy your garden pollinators next
season and see if you can recognize these behaviors and perhaps
observe new ones.</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>More on Bumble Bees:</b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/5039387/Might-of-the-bumblebee.html">The Telegraph. Might of the bumblebee.Learning tests, yellow flowers vs. blue </a></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><a href="https://beautifulnativeplants.blogspot.com/2017/03/bumble-bees-panda-bears-of-insect-world.html">Bumble Bees, Panda Bears of the InsectWorld </a></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</p><br /><p></p></div>Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-86151989948238283932019-07-17T13:51:00.000-07:002019-07-17T13:51:08.508-07:00Pollinators equipment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-2240926127651443592019-07-17T13:44:00.000-07:002019-07-17T13:45:24.945-07:00Mountain mint visitors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-78844601834052454852019-05-23T15:56:00.001-07:002021-08-11T11:06:38.731-07:00Larvae<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-30367177385455506042019-03-09T13:14:00.001-08:002021-08-15T07:36:56.772-07:00Bees and Stingers<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Life
is hard for pollinators. Well, life is hard for all creatures, not
just animals but plants, too. They are all food for other creatures.
Leave it to Jonathan Swift to put this concept in a nutshell. He
tells us on </span><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Poetry, a
Rhapsody</span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
“<span style="font-weight: normal;">...every
creature </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"> Lives
in a state of war by nature...”</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">And
explains further:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"> “So,
naturalists</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">observe,
a flea</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"> Hath
smaller</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">fleas
that on him prey;</span></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
And these have</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
smaller still to
bit'em;</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
And so proceed</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
ad infinitum.”</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This is why every
creature needs to invest on defenses in order to survive and to pass
its genes to the next generation. This is also true of pollinators.
We can use bees to illustrate this point, just as Jonathan Swift used
fleas. They have a whole array of defenses, some of them we don't
even know much about. So let us take a look at the better known one,
the stinger.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bees use their
stingers in self defense and in defense of their brood. They don't
use them for any other purpose. A stinger is located at the rear end
of a bee. It is not like the sharp tongues or jaws of other insects
like mosquitoes, horse flies or fleas. These insects use their
piercing mouth parts for an entirely different purpose, primarily to
obtain nutrition in the form of blood.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNh8wKY_K721Jq0PxcXzi_3Kri_A9xlNPwkaRZbAk4VN1BwQYlkysDJlZB0yaxjluOdJi7ZOskPEff_lvX_J88jKL3mynmcEb7EA88g_24aeIH6QhV6uTiTUA8F4NtRFTJn5F8XvnWSbyM/s1600/P5130802.ichneum.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="640" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNh8wKY_K721Jq0PxcXzi_3Kri_A9xlNPwkaRZbAk4VN1BwQYlkysDJlZB0yaxjluOdJi7ZOskPEff_lvX_J88jKL3mynmcEb7EA88g_24aeIH6QhV6uTiTUA8F4NtRFTJn5F8XvnWSbyM/s320/P5130802.ichneum.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Ichneumonid
wasps have an impressive appendage</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">at
the rear end, but it isn't a stinger.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">It is
used only to lay eggs and it is called ovipositor</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
A stinger has a
long and peculiar evolutionary history. Many millions of years ago
there were wasps, ancestors of present day wasps and bees, which did
not have stingers. They did have a long, pointy tube at the end of
the abdomen which they used for laying eggs and got the name of
ovipositor. Many wasps still use it for this only purpose. They
inject an egg inside the body of another insect, for instance a fat,
nutritious caterpillar. The wasp's baby grows surrounded by food and
well protected inside the body of its victim. Ordinarily, it ends up
killing its host. This is why they are considered something between a
parasite and a predator and they are called parasitoids. Their
victims are called hosts.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The hosts, in
turn, developed defenses against their enemies. Many of the larvae
hide themselves inside plant stems or under bark. So the wasps, had
to come up with ways to overcome these defenses. Their ovipositors
became stronger and longer. Other victims were able to fight back by
squirming or biting their attackers back. So the wasps evolved
substances that they could inject along with the egg. These
substances paralyze the victim without killing it. Thus the progeny
has fresh food at its disposal, rather than a decomposing corpse. And
here is where the ovipositor took a curious turn.<br />
<br />
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In some insects it
stopped being an ovipositor and became a syringe loaded with toxic
stuff. Its function became purely defensive. The wasp found other
means to lay her eggs bypassing the stinger. This happened many
millions of years ago. All the descendants of those early wasps are
what we know as stinging wasps and bees; ants also belong in this
category. They all have a
modified ovipositor which doesn't serve that purpose anymore.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The stinger took
another turn. Bees don't attack prey. Their ancestors used to chase
insects that were feeding on flowers. At some point, they discovered
that flowers' pollen is so nutritious that it was preferable to feed
this to their brood and not bother hunting animal food. In other
words, they became vegetarians. However, they did not give up the
stinger. They kept it for defense purposes. Obviously, only females
have this weapon. Males never had an ovipositor and as a consequence
they don't have a stinger either and can't sting you.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IEbRFEZO3aCt860oUOMGdqk41XxcDfioceg6tHKgsCqXKhPfTJc9aV0cXTsnlj0Q_VWnolWjHVWgYgy1PA9kpAyS0SsFiwMfQ9Py8oJ5q0AX13RMpP1-639-nk1IykKYhJmlqlohkjgc/s1600/IMG_3571.5.8.09f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="598" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0IEbRFEZO3aCt860oUOMGdqk41XxcDfioceg6tHKgsCqXKhPfTJc9aV0cXTsnlj0Q_VWnolWjHVWgYgy1PA9kpAyS0SsFiwMfQ9Py8oJ5q0AX13RMpP1-639-nk1IykKYhJmlqlohkjgc/s320/IMG_3571.5.8.09f.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">A
bee's stinger is seldom seen.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">It is
tucked away at the rear end</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
One wonders why
females have such a formidable defensive weapon while the males
don't. The answer seems to be that males are shorter lived. Once they
have mated there is no further use for them. The females, on the
other hand have to raise a family. They need to defend the nest and
the future generation, not just themselves.</div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I read recently
that the budget for defense is bigger than all the other budgets put
together, such as all the sciences, arts, education, the environment
and so on. How is this possible? Later on, I thought that we are not
all that different from the rest of the world, and I mean the entire
living world, plants and animals, not just humans.</div>
Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-85052792986584998822017-09-21T16:21:00.001-07:002017-09-21T16:21:45.964-07:00A Butterfly's Flashy Colors<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM05MIueo3RxXNXtRHSsUbD_KmQqzsj3izc-Fdmnz2Z83eakTu7-NRwZpDS1nlqCPvTlX8nfmfAzjv_9wLg5AfdrgydzI5U0KgXbcey8_QXhGudqzYqa1fPPFEPkUPT8nnHvrsQuVMJsC/s1600/MVI_3249+03.10.1.06.monarch.w..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="448" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM05MIueo3RxXNXtRHSsUbD_KmQqzsj3izc-Fdmnz2Z83eakTu7-NRwZpDS1nlqCPvTlX8nfmfAzjv_9wLg5AfdrgydzI5U0KgXbcey8_QXhGudqzYqa1fPPFEPkUPT8nnHvrsQuVMJsC/s320/MVI_3249+03.10.1.06.monarch.w..jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Male monarch butterfly</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
(<i>Danaus plexippus</i>)</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
© Beatriz Moisset</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
People fall in love with monarch
butterflies because of their bright black and orange pattern. Many
monarch enthusiasts are busily raising these butterflies in their
gardens and homes. Some have become real experts on these insects and
their life cycle. They are profoundly distressed when something goes
wrong and one of them fails to make it to adulthood and freedom.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Some particularly despise butterfly
enemies. If they catch a predatory bug sucking the juices out of an
unfortunate caterpillar, they rage against the predator. Parasitic
flies also generate a violent reaction. I<span lang="es-ES">t is hard
to believe, </span><span lang="en-US">but </span><span lang="es-ES">monarchs
</span><span lang="en-US">owe</span><span lang="es-ES"> their
beautiful colors to their enemies. Here is the whole story.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Monarchs feed on
milkweeds. They are dependent on these plants and cannot digest
others. Milkweeds, like many plants produce powerful toxins as a
defense against herbivores. These toxins go by the name of cardiac
glycosides because they cause heart paralysis. As an additional
defense they produce a sticky milky-looking substance that gives them
their name. The milk is present in most tissues of the plant and
bleed easily, gumming the yaws of a hungry attacker that tries to eat the milkweed plant.
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="en-US">Th</span><span lang="es-ES">is
is</span><span lang="en-US"> enough to deter most plant eaters, but
monarch butterfly caterpillars and more than a dozen other creatures
have learned to overcome </span><span lang="es-ES">such defenses</span><span lang="en-US">.
Earlier milkweeds, millions of years ago, had milder forms of the
toxin</span><span lang="es-ES">s. </span><span lang="en-US">T</span><span lang="es-ES">hat
was all they needed, but some </span><span lang="en-US">earl</span><span lang="es-ES">y</span><span lang="en-US">
insects learned to tolerate them and proceeded undeterred to feed
from these plants. Thus, milkweeds were forced to create stronger and
stronger glycosides and, in turn their feeders found ways to deal
with the more powerful toxins. Arms races of this type abound in the
natural world.</span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="en-US">The monarch
butterfly adapted itself to these plants </span><span lang="es-ES">by
several means: </span><span lang="en-US">it avoided the most toxic
plants or their most toxic parts; it developed enzymes that could
deal with the toxins, or it stored them in parts of its body where
they could do no harm. In doing all this, it became dependent on
milkweeds. This dependence added a bonus to the monarch's survival,
its body is loaded with bad tasting, toxic glycosides, which constitute a powerful defense against its enemies. Most predators
avoid the toxic butterfly. However a handful of these predators
developed ways to handle the monarch's toxins by eating only the
parts with less glycosides, or by evolving enzymes that neutralize
these toxic substances. This is another case of the arms race at
work.</span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="en-US">This is not all. The
monarch advertises its toxicity and horrid taste to possible
predators. Birds who never saw a monarch butterfly before eagerly
take a bite of one. The immediate reaction is that of disgust,
spitting up the morsel and shaking their heads or rubbing their beaks
in an effort to remove the unpleasantness. They have no trouble
remembering the </span><span lang="es-ES">striking</span><span lang="en-US">ly
colored creature and its bad taste. They are not likely to repeat
such experience.</span></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitXdGo_yURKZk0gUWILeGNGKH7lLYeoEnigJhiB6mP61Ns-Q6NZnZzGLbMzMQbU5EKJzixmK8ngKoG00ZfNnjl86Go6QWcPWU6Qhvl3n1sCkLsroVoeJRWABcI2qXmC3U4mZTeMaXFtoQ/s1600/IMG_8447.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="640" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitXdGo_yURKZk0gUWILeGNGKH7lLYeoEnigJhiB6mP61Ns-Q6NZnZzGLbMzMQbU5EKJzixmK8ngKoG00ZfNnjl86Go6QWcPWU6Qhvl3n1sCkLsroVoeJRWABcI2qXmC3U4mZTeMaXFtoQ/s320/IMG_8447.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Large milkweed bugs
(<i>Oncopeltus fasciatus</i>)
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
on milkweed seed pod.
Adults and nymphs</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
© Beatriz Moisset</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4iUdP2mAlWd-kE-I5wVqKfgg43zxbzwAoClStSV7Up1JPc0kX65vV48YC2SmlT9fZuXWb2Jinbcgl-OSI3ITKmuzMKTsNoxHp6EVCPuWV5g9pLSzCyeWbUyBKjLIRll7nzrU-RWCRPfX/s1600/IMG_1493.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="625" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4iUdP2mAlWd-kE-I5wVqKfgg43zxbzwAoClStSV7Up1JPc0kX65vV48YC2SmlT9fZuXWb2Jinbcgl-OSI3ITKmuzMKTsNoxHp6EVCPuWV5g9pLSzCyeWbUyBKjLIRll7nzrU-RWCRPfX/s320/IMG_1493.w.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Milkweed beetle (<i>Tetraopes
tetrophthalmus</i>)</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
© Beatriz Moisset</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The monarch butterfly is
not the only animal that advertises its bad taste by sporting bright
colors. Other insects that feed on milkweeds, like the milkweed
beetles and milkweed bugs, are also colorful, in red and black; we
can be sure that they are just as bad tasting. Similar cases abound
in nature, not only insects but also vertebrates. Most frogs are
green or have brown spots, colors that blend well with vegetation and
help them remain unnoticed. The so-called poison dart frogs are the
exception. Their backs are glossy red. The name tells you that these
frogs produce powerful toxins, so much so, that native peoples use
them to smear the tip of their darts in order to make them more
lethal.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwn-bQhwMX3OdMj53d9Aqxk52pUc6r-9fMw-9LJDUBlUQ2TB0cMW6d3wiXZIU06M7UjQyH85tQnXRzaoyNuhfbtCHqf7WbIvt65Nu5nGlzNmMrl4vQ62ZtzA9ka_IN7ZoarcwJDPbgns8z/s1600/Dendrobatid_Frog%252C_Peru%252C_02-02.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="524" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwn-bQhwMX3OdMj53d9Aqxk52pUc6r-9fMw-9LJDUBlUQ2TB0cMW6d3wiXZIU06M7UjQyH85tQnXRzaoyNuhfbtCHqf7WbIvt65Nu5nGlzNmMrl4vQ62ZtzA9ka_IN7ZoarcwJDPbgns8z/s320/Dendrobatid_Frog%252C_Peru%252C_02-02.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dendrobatid frog, Peru</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
© Tim Ross.<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dendrobatid_Frog,_Peru,_02-02.jpg" target="_blank"> Wikicommons</a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tchtzxaz6e_MRMDkACkJDWcWs_BnZDuW6pfmXhnciAyfd-Mz6dA32MmR6xcjVyDsOj02zzH-hU_NEK9imFJjJYLNscT6yNmmbx2nFAYuTOMh_Qd5tcdFQYiBQLmhC2hlxmLxLVwZjigO/s1600/IMG_1750.6.28.11c.Cycloneda+munda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="561" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0tchtzxaz6e_MRMDkACkJDWcWs_BnZDuW6pfmXhnciAyfd-Mz6dA32MmR6xcjVyDsOj02zzH-hU_NEK9imFJjJYLNscT6yNmmbx2nFAYuTOMh_Qd5tcdFQYiBQLmhC2hlxmLxLVwZjigO/s320/IMG_1750.6.28.11c.Cycloneda+munda.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Polished Lady Beetle
(Cycloneda munda)</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Ladybeetles are another
example of</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
brightly colored bad
tasting insects</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
© Beatriz Moisset</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
So, as I said at the
start, a monarch's lovely colors are due to a constant battle with
their enemies. In a perfect world (perfect for monarchs, that is)
these butterflies wouldn't need to be loaded with toxins, nor would
they need to tell their enemies to keep away. In such a perfect
world, monarchs would have plain colors. Is this what we want?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOiafDqu9-DMwYlFYw19GHSMvMBMtPZZgM_IlzghALCwUyXtWvn4awWYQlCseCz5bQpTFy58TkJfQhbh8aLdyk2UtAk5TL4GBkUL_yzQ9AE3Z61Ywdpu42ZQfTSHEykEHNP7JkTLnAitSg/s1600/IMG_9468.8.26.07.w.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="596" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOiafDqu9-DMwYlFYw19GHSMvMBMtPZZgM_IlzghALCwUyXtWvn4awWYQlCseCz5bQpTFy58TkJfQhbh8aLdyk2UtAk5TL4GBkUL_yzQ9AE3Z61Ywdpu42ZQfTSHEykEHNP7JkTLnAitSg/s320/IMG_9468.8.26.07.w.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The monarch caterpillar is
also toxic</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
and also has bright
warning colors</div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
© Beatriz Moisset</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Further readings:</b></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://pollinatingbee.blogspot.com/2010/02/list-of-articles.html">List of articles</a><br />
<a href="http://pollinators.blogspot.com/2012/11/monarchs-and-their-enemies.html" target="_blank">Monarchs and their Enemies</a><br />
<a href="http://pollinators.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-monarchs-breadbasket.html" target="_blank">The Monarch's Breadbasket</a> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://polinizador.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/an-easy-guide-to-the-most-frequent-flower-visitors/">Beginners
Guide to Pollinators and Other Flower Visitors</a><br />
<br />
<span class="unicode"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset. 2017</span></span></div>
Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-75836291619106608122017-09-03T12:24:00.000-07:002017-09-03T12:24:03.372-07:00Imitation is the Best Form of Protection in Some Cases<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGE-xklKQ55sBjcqiEt14i3C99XZVqACIQff6oN-cNUMMJO8YRrUVCfBKFT6nC8o27Cgj36nBV3NfIh68zUF4Cab9EXfc_khjpM9BU7ACvxMgSOoTwJjFU17PTVnfRoesQ2xtpglDRwtX/s1600/P7023347.03w.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGE-xklKQ55sBjcqiEt14i3C99XZVqACIQff6oN-cNUMMJO8YRrUVCfBKFT6nC8o27Cgj36nBV3NfIh68zUF4Cab9EXfc_khjpM9BU7ACvxMgSOoTwJjFU17PTVnfRoesQ2xtpglDRwtX/s400/P7023347.03w.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not a bee, but a mimic, the fly <i>Eristalis<span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span></i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10.1333332061768px; text-align: start;">© Beatriz Moisse</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10.1333332061768px; text-align: start;">t</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A stroll among the flowers allows me to
see numerous bees of different sorts, zipping along from blossom to
blossom. Just as numerous are other winged insects that look very
much like bees. The experienced eye recognizes them for what they
are, flower flies impersonating the stinging insects. But those
unfamiliar with bees or with insects, in general, may assume that
these flower flies are bees. They may even recoil in fear of a sting
although the flies are innocuous, lacking such powerful weapon.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfv6B9mkr10TxhMhfUOMUEBWy5kgiwHXTNHCZbEk2Sdh87rc1YmJ2lsLHPBaz6ERk40H5lxOKMm-HXqVhagk-MgPSPWYn-6u_t7OPqIaYi634wuccV-KwiJLC8Z9ug7f-cKxjpMtsB5BMi/s1600/IMG_7907.7.31.10w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfv6B9mkr10TxhMhfUOMUEBWy5kgiwHXTNHCZbEk2Sdh87rc1YmJ2lsLHPBaz6ERk40H5lxOKMm-HXqVhagk-MgPSPWYn-6u_t7OPqIaYi634wuccV-KwiJLC8Z9ug7f-cKxjpMtsB5BMi/s320/IMG_7907.7.31.10w.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wasp mimic, <i>Spilomyia sayi</i> <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10.1333332061768px; text-align: start;">© Beatriz Moisse</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10.1333332061768px; text-align: start;">t</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Those flies who imitate bees or wasps have a reason
for playing this masquerade. They are not interested in fooling us,
humans. Their deception is aimed at their predators, mostly birds.
However, the ruse is so effective that it even we fall for it.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Syrphid flies, also known as flower
flies or hover flies, are almost as assiduous in visiting flowers as
bees are. They drink nectar and sometimes also feed on pollen.
Although not as efficient as bees as pollinators, they deserve some
credit and occasionally their contribution to pollination is
significant. Another group of flies that visit flowers with great
frequency includes the so called bee flies.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Both, flower flies and bee flies mimic
bees or, in some instances, wasps. The imitation is very specific in
some cases. The so called drone fly, <i>Eristalis tenax</i>, looks
like a honey bee. The name is appropriate, considering that male honey bees, drones, have large eyes, and these flies have even bigger
eyes. Both, the fly and the honey bee are European. The imitator
evolved along with its model in that continent. Another European
flower fly that mimics honey bees effectively is the narcissus fly,
<i>Merodon equestris</i>.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Other flower flies and also a robber
fly imitate bumble bees. They have a furry coat and even buzz like
bumble bees.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOR1D7R5qhpVpLNsPnG5ZJImuxuYPt96x1iltZS9C2pReAwbK8xLNKT8AG89OFSx4WMFMy7MIDCGUcFImNxc2DtC4ELWtTeZr-MBc7I-iv9suKrH2lIX_cw5JSfC8Z21FSus3n380_Dn1/s1600/P5120754.05c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOR1D7R5qhpVpLNsPnG5ZJImuxuYPt96x1iltZS9C2pReAwbK8xLNKT8AG89OFSx4WMFMy7MIDCGUcFImNxc2DtC4ELWtTeZr-MBc7I-iv9suKrH2lIX_cw5JSfC8Z21FSus3n380_Dn1/s320/P5120754.05c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bumble bee mimic, <i>Mallota bautias</i> <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10.1333332061768px; text-align: start;">© Beatriz Moisse</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10.1333332061768px; text-align: start;">t</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
The smaller flies, members of the
Syrphinae subfamily apparently are mimics of some or another of the
many solitary bees. In most cases one cannot be sure of the model
chosen for this mimicry.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMRBqfSQv6hQCE6Eem-SFDvqKhx7MFKQ1l0AngEj1qovliSpS0aATqM5uYyt1tj5S5SYSPtYh-QvkuI4jb6J5R_81mV1jdnR2ZPXDxoCBXxy_LJI0V6iq69KTeU7QO5cbwJhRArLp6Gdp/s1600/P7072044.05bee.w.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMRBqfSQv6hQCE6Eem-SFDvqKhx7MFKQ1l0AngEj1qovliSpS0aATqM5uYyt1tj5S5SYSPtYh-QvkuI4jb6J5R_81mV1jdnR2ZPXDxoCBXxy_LJI0V6iq69KTeU7QO5cbwJhRArLp6Gdp/s320/P7072044.05bee.w.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A honey bee, the model for many mimics <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10.1333332061768px; text-align: start;">© Beatriz Moisse</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10.1333332061768px; text-align: start;">t</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It is a peculiar thing that some
imitations are extremely good, while others are rather general in
character. Biologists speculate that even a not-so-good imitation may
serve the purpose of deceiving the enemies and this is why such types
of mimicry persist in nature. It is also possible that the predators
don’t see exactly what we see and the mimicry is convincing enough
for them.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This is just one type of mimicry. Other
insects take the appearance of their surroundings, which makes them
nearly invisible. Still others look like bird poop, not an appetizing
sight for a snack seeker. Stay tuned for descriptions and
illustrations of more of these ingenious survival mechanisms.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>References</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: blue;"><u><a href="http://pollinators.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-great-impersonators-flower-flies.html">http://pollinators.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-great-impersonators-flower-flies.html</a></u></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: blue;"><u><a href="https://polinizador.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/mimics-of-bumble-bees/">https://polinizador.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/mimics-of-bumble-bees/</a> </u></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://pollinatingbee.blogspot.com/2010/02/list-of-articles.html">List of articles</a><br />
<a href="http://polinizador.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/an-easy-guide-to-the-most-frequent-flower-visitors/">Beginners
Guide to Pollinators and Other Flower Visitors</a><br />
<br />
<span class="unicode"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset. 2015</span></span><br />
</div>
Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-31050338779905782202017-02-21T12:59:00.002-08:002017-09-03T12:14:04.638-07:00Unexpected Liaisons, Mites and Bees<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcx-pZIY3SW4iDUui6elwbbXwjStCpWS6cJyK_nOXHEztyEGkY2pPa_7h8zEldBysH8zh0yJ-Dc2mnarQtbkKBNFpRq4QapUslpBffhyphenhyphen2CSKZKrUBuYh6A-qgO7stVJ2MtUHaL5fC9PyLi/s1600/Worn_out_and_mite-ridden_male_red_mason_bee_%2528Osmia_bicornis%2529%252C_Sandy%252C_Bedfordshire_%252814113140892%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcx-pZIY3SW4iDUui6elwbbXwjStCpWS6cJyK_nOXHEztyEGkY2pPa_7h8zEldBysH8zh0yJ-Dc2mnarQtbkKBNFpRq4QapUslpBffhyphenhyphen2CSKZKrUBuYh6A-qgO7stVJ2MtUHaL5fC9PyLi/s320/Worn_out_and_mite-ridden_male_red_mason_bee_%2528Osmia_bicornis%2529%252C_Sandy%252C_Bedfordshire_%252814113140892%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Mason bee with phoretic
mites</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="yui_3_11_0_1_1487189950821_378"></a>
<span lang="es-ES">Wikicommons ©<a href="http://Mason bee with phoretic mites Wikicommons © Orangeaurochs" target="_blank"> </a></span><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Worn_out_and_mite-ridden_male_red_mason_bee_(Osmia_bicornis),_Sandy,_Bedfordshire_(14113140892).jpg" target="_blank">Orangeaurochs</a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We
think of mites as annoying tiny parasites that cling to </span></span></span></i><i><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">us</span></span></span></i><i><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
and make </span></span></span></i><i><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">us</span></span></span></i><i><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
itch. If we see an insect covered with mites we feel sorry for it,
assuming that the poor thing must be itching terribly and being
weakened by the blood sucking pest. This is true in most cases, but
curiously there are some exceptions. Believe it or not, some bees,
</span></span></span></i><i><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">wasps
and beetles</span></span></span></i><i><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
are perfectly happy with such companions. They b</span></span></span></i><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">us around </span></span></span><i><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the</span></span></span></i><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> little fellows from plants to nests. This earn the passengers the name of phoretic mites.</span></span></span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEjXsHPrwsGbAKFkXR4knHKV2JAzh38JFlZXYr7RVU2G2pgr0pjBFPJdhcu1UaGNxB2LZJR-zmNXWqfqPP3S08IT3x7FhGBJm-4yulCLe2Ucw5-FZ8n69QfiRTZ38W3ZSQ7B_zp3OViU_/s1600/Xylocopa_pubescens_female_with_mite_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEjXsHPrwsGbAKFkXR4knHKV2JAzh38JFlZXYr7RVU2G2pgr0pjBFPJdhcu1UaGNxB2LZJR-zmNXWqfqPP3S08IT3x7FhGBJm-4yulCLe2Ucw5-FZ8n69QfiRTZ38W3ZSQ7B_zp3OViU_/s320/Xylocopa_pubescens_female_with_mite_1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Carpenter bee<span lang="es-ES"> (<i>Xylocopa</i>)</span> <span lang="es-ES">with
phoretic mites</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="es-ES">Wikicommons ©
<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Xylocopa_pubescens_female_with_mite_1.JPG" target="_blank">Gideon Pisanty</a></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Mites
and ticks are not insects. They are related to spiders, and most of
them have eight legs, just like spiders. Mites are tiny; most of them
are smaller than the </span></span></span></i><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">tip</span></span></span><i><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> of your ball point pen, so it is not
surprising that we know very little about them. We would be quite
surprised at the immense variety of mites and the large number of
species. Many feed at the expense of animals, like the ones mentioned
at the start of this piece, but many more feed on plants, fungi or
bacteria.</span></span></span></i></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIRFdkops9-WfPicjiOyG6NHh6ZE5n0A5j7xPtwir0ux562EnA-zeqRGxRkOcO_OjXOpOc6DBR-MEXyFgb4EJYGFHWv65ZtyATopRFjwEvyLsnzQQGYJfR5K2htiT7v44IIcoQ0D-mL9H/s1600/Acarinarium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIRFdkops9-WfPicjiOyG6NHh6ZE5n0A5j7xPtwir0ux562EnA-zeqRGxRkOcO_OjXOpOc6DBR-MEXyFgb4EJYGFHWv65ZtyATopRFjwEvyLsnzQQGYJfR5K2htiT7v44IIcoQ0D-mL9H/s320/Acarinarium.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="es-ES">Acarinarium of
carpenter bee (<i>Xylocopa</i>)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="es-ES">Wikicommons © T. B.
Fletcher (1914) </span>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Getting
back to the mites covering a bee. Little do you know that these
particular kind of mites are the bee's friends to the point that the
bee provides transport for them. Some bees have a small compartment
or pouch on their bodies where mites can ride comfortably to the
bee's nest. This organ is called an acarinarium, from the Greek word
acarus (plural acari), which means mite.</span></span></span></i></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">It
turns out that the mites feed on parasites that are prone to invade
the bee's nest where she is raising a family. Thus the mite provides
a valuable service to the bee which is greatly appreciated and
compensated.</span></span></span></i></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Some
wasps have a similar mutualistic arrangement with mites and carry
them to their nests. Carrion beetles transport mites to fresh
carcasses. The mites feed on fly maggots, the beetle's competitors.</span></span></span></i><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPIBapY33NsHGgJCtsVzNZybMqzMTKj90MArCdq_6d0vbIRjCnZeCb_Hn6egRbaxmPo6WjGgpLAlYNrX3ef25Gylp_LGs-wcpniwVJs7uWENBJr5EY5daqD4ed9f8Zt47kTowQKY6_d6ky/s1600/acarinarium.stephen+Luk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPIBapY33NsHGgJCtsVzNZybMqzMTKj90MArCdq_6d0vbIRjCnZeCb_Hn6egRbaxmPo6WjGgpLAlYNrX3ef25Gylp_LGs-wcpniwVJs7uWENBJr5EY5daqD4ed9f8Zt47kTowQKY6_d6ky/s320/acarinarium.stephen+Luk.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="es-ES">Potter wasp with
acarinarium</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="es-ES">© <a href="http://bugguide.net/node/view/194182" target="_blank">Stephen Luk</a></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWjrUBLonui7oEuqbYh8UwdoPlCAogyVIfjRgMbCVlNv8i1xROE-LbQ9874TvqhZvacbHMQaByWORpJJWxisAxODGA-WideREUAI2-BjfJ7yqny55-SLLkgLtxfusBd3hGHdSRH3Tijsr/s1600/Nicrophorus_vespillioides_-_Schwarzh%25C3%25B6rniger_Totengr%25C3%25A4ber_%25289727222089%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWjrUBLonui7oEuqbYh8UwdoPlCAogyVIfjRgMbCVlNv8i1xROE-LbQ9874TvqhZvacbHMQaByWORpJJWxisAxODGA-WideREUAI2-BjfJ7yqny55-SLLkgLtxfusBd3hGHdSRH3Tijsr/s320/Nicrophorus_vespillioides_-_Schwarzh%25C3%25B6rniger_Totengr%25C3%25A4ber_%25289727222089%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="es-ES">Carrion beetle with
phoretic mites</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="es-ES">Flickr, Wikimedia. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/51216897@N07?rb=1" target="_blank">© Bohne, G</a></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://pollinatingbee.blogspot.com/2010/02/list-of-articles.html">List of articles</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://polinizador.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/an-easy-guide-to-the-most-frequent-flower-visitors/">Beginners
Guide to Pollinators and Other Flower Visitors</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="unicode" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset. 2017</span></span></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-44626338847790583152017-02-20T12:54:00.000-08:002017-09-03T12:14:49.186-07:00Spurs: Hard to Get Nectar<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrlWi1ydUrdOSSxNbhM6CWD1yUTaLPUD-gdR0o6cX3vaGAY4hWfj_wUicB3ln8Moi1Zjb4_LJGFH_7BN1CTJZ59Od4jwQ8XPd_cPFjsfWW66VzWQHFmbkq7aaubt7JgOqsu430x0HiF4v/s1600/P4282240.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrlWi1ydUrdOSSxNbhM6CWD1yUTaLPUD-gdR0o6cX3vaGAY4hWfj_wUicB3ln8Moi1Zjb4_LJGFH_7BN1CTJZ59Od4jwQ8XPd_cPFjsfWW66VzWQHFmbkq7aaubt7JgOqsu430x0HiF4v/s320/P4282240.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Violet.
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
© Beatriz Moisset</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"> Many flowers are
very particular about their clientele. They have developed ways to
make themselves attractive to certain flower visitors while
discouraging others. They do so by adopting a certain shape. The
spurs of many flowers serve this purpose. A petal or a sepal develops
an elongated hollow spike. This is what botanists call a spur. </span>
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmYSopqFrv_o4bhvAo7ED5l9u4RIXWrFNzorY2Jwz0O47GTcYkKy6yQlxvDiK3brv6bR8emnCdNk9EmvFxOtTPe0PrKmWtfBhB9XmBWBZzr6PVXZ5epzwN-WXW6h23c16mZEb_eVMi1GK/s1600/Viola_mirabilis_flower_side_2w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRmYSopqFrv_o4bhvAo7ED5l9u4RIXWrFNzorY2Jwz0O47GTcYkKy6yQlxvDiK3brv6bR8emnCdNk9EmvFxOtTPe0PrKmWtfBhB9XmBWBZzr6PVXZ5epzwN-WXW6h23c16mZEb_eVMi1GK/s320/Viola_mirabilis_flower_side_2w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Violet (<i>Viola mirabilis</i>). Note the spur</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Wikicommons. © <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Viola_mirabilis_flower_side_1_AB.jpg" target="_blank">Antti Bilund</a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://americanvioletsociety.org/VioletGazette/VioletGazette_V2_1_P5.htm" target="_blank">Violets</a> have a
spur. Nectar is collected at its bottom. A pollinator needs a tongue
long enough to reach the hidden nectar waiting in this special
vessel. The rest of the flower is so designed that the insect gets
covered with pollen while performing this task. If it is carrying
pollen from a previous flower visit, it is likely to deposit it on
the stigma. Only long tongued insects can take advantage of this
flower and they need to develop an efficient way to approach this
specially shaped blossom. After a few times they get better and
better and proceed faster. The most common pollinators of violets are
small, solitary bees.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLYIcu-AeQX6hYBi2E_yvpSLCa9VgD59q-btQyR-UxSbJ7dEmGBgHDRp26LHyDZ8lMR_4DnbdjQmSPK16D-mSGuirnXv-DfT8Cwo9j_lECc9n7aLuO3nZnZnw9TmgRrgrEJxl8L0kBvfG/s1600/P9097303.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLYIcu-AeQX6hYBi2E_yvpSLCa9VgD59q-btQyR-UxSbJ7dEmGBgHDRp26LHyDZ8lMR_4DnbdjQmSPK16D-mSGuirnXv-DfT8Cwo9j_lECc9n7aLuO3nZnZnw9TmgRrgrEJxl8L0kBvfG/s320/P9097303.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bumble bee visiting a jewelweed blossom</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
© Beatriz Moisset
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black;">Jewelweed <a href="https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=IMPAT" target="_blank">(<i>Impatiens</i></a>) also
possess a spur. The flower itself is a small chamber just a little
larger than a bumble bee. The petals form a curtain that slightly
blocks the entrance to this chamber. Bumble bees are pros at
collecting nectar from these flowers. Their plump bodies fit inside
the chamber like a finger in a glove and their long and flexible
tongues are suited to the curved spur.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZOsC6aBl0thBaHFOLlHXX1h-QjEXfpygzzmEHyEMvhYxaXSbetN7q_du1ZGzPhzKfRQXS1yHebehpPAEol43jthD4kB4IVRu7hwa79bhyphenhyphenH9BIbM42D6rz4dj1NZBSj02dn14yqIF5NBi/s1600/P5013575.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZOsC6aBl0thBaHFOLlHXX1h-QjEXfpygzzmEHyEMvhYxaXSbetN7q_du1ZGzPhzKfRQXS1yHebehpPAEol43jthD4kB4IVRu7hwa79bhyphenhyphenH9BIbM42D6rz4dj1NZBSj02dn14yqIF5NBi/s320/P5013575.w.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Columbine.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
© Beatriz Moisset
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/beauty/columbines/naturalhistory.shtml" target="_blank">Columbines</a> have
not one but five spurs. Each petal is shaped like a long hollow horn
ending on a knob. This is where the nectar gathers. Long tongued
insects and hummingbirds pollinate these flowers. In most species,
the flower nods or points downward, and the spurs point to the sky.
This arrangement seems to be agreeable to their most common
pollinators, hummingbirds.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4ajMORB_dTvKPdoseJv36EP7gpu0wD7-ag60s_6jeSDak69MaAAW6YKYG3oM5x_dRRLTcaszXqk0yImDILXH_Drr_zsjEoFpGus_V-RpLbpX21pikQT39lBGz7UAb9889shtPUe9WVQv/s1600/P5170960.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4ajMORB_dTvKPdoseJv36EP7gpu0wD7-ag60s_6jeSDak69MaAAW6YKYG3oM5x_dRRLTcaszXqk0yImDILXH_Drr_zsjEoFpGus_V-RpLbpX21pikQT39lBGz7UAb9889shtPUe9WVQv/s320/P5170960.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Columbine.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
© Beatriz Moisset
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black;">By contrast, the
flowers of the alpine columbine remain erect, don't nod. They are
also creamy white, a color favored by moths. And thus, they are
preferably pollinated by large moths, the so called hawkmoths. A few
other species of columbines, including the Colorado blue columbine,
also face upwards and are also pollinated by moths.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzQR5xPZEJfbwsTmlwRC2-Lv60sMSZpJOmnlXzkRo6cMPBRx90yMV9v0nKWsd-uuf6b6qbl0Xv71Z12pF9p5waA4PzLumwKyn3yY7fsTP6j9Wo8YBaROXuTeLVrC-BiVjQo7snsfVwcB0/s1600/IMG_3597.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzQR5xPZEJfbwsTmlwRC2-Lv60sMSZpJOmnlXzkRo6cMPBRx90yMV9v0nKWsd-uuf6b6qbl0Xv71Z12pF9p5waA4PzLumwKyn3yY7fsTP6j9Wo8YBaROXuTeLVrC-BiVjQo7snsfVwcB0/s320/IMG_3597.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Columbine and carpenter bee</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
stealing nectar</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
© Beatriz Moisset</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaJTDxxwjBjysVwEGKiiJ1mYbsg8pfN-eK9ywsmo8A_7N7aOSUKGTuHZzrSpvZeI9X_S9Zwxmgpa7HgzHW5c64wpWp5r1d8mNF0ELISZTk70GjPoL1vwGccRnRllRBqo4b23_s21eWtwV/s1600/IMG_7577.8.21.12.f.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzaJTDxxwjBjysVwEGKiiJ1mYbsg8pfN-eK9ywsmo8A_7N7aOSUKGTuHZzrSpvZeI9X_S9Zwxmgpa7HgzHW5c64wpWp5r1d8mNF0ELISZTk70GjPoL1vwGccRnRllRBqo4b23_s21eWtwV/s320/IMG_7577.8.21.12.f.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Jewelweed and ants</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
stealing nectar</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
© Beatriz Moisset</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black;">This
specialization has advantages but it also has some disadvantages. Not
all flower visitors behave like honest pollinators. These difficult
flowers are an invitation to cheating. Some visitors learn to take a
shortcut, especially if their tongues aren't long enough to reach the
bottom of the spur. They approach the flower from the side. Perhaps,
they can smell the sweets through the walls of the spur. A quick bite
or a stab through the delicate petal may be all it takes to reach the
hidden food. Carpenter bees, bumble bees and even ants have been seen
performing this robbery.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://pollinatingbee.blogspot.com/2010/02/list-of-articles.html">List of articles</a><br />
<a href="http://polinizador.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/an-easy-guide-to-the-most-frequent-flower-visitors/">Beginners
Guide to Pollinators and Other Flower Visitors</a><br />
<br />
<span class="unicode"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset. 2017</span></span><br />
</div>
Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-14669875176470848222017-02-12T08:44:00.000-08:002017-09-22T06:08:38.880-07:00Butterfly Pollination<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17EqlCzlddSu1hzXqWQrStBnoQt3MGYCFeTU0uczztVcS7zFmtCDXqtXh23h7TZEun23rJ58noJUK-ZAqbzdvAC8DMkovZ81naQmRIJ-wU_EPxJPFwTEDDDLXOeOr9VkZC6Khi82qyE3N/s1600/fritill.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17EqlCzlddSu1hzXqWQrStBnoQt3MGYCFeTU0uczztVcS7zFmtCDXqtXh23h7TZEun23rJ58noJUK-ZAqbzdvAC8DMkovZ81naQmRIJ-wU_EPxJPFwTEDDDLXOeOr9VkZC6Khi82qyE3N/s320/fritill.03.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fritillary butterfly on butterfly weed
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
© Beatriz Moisset</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When you mention pollinators to people,
the immediate answer is: bees and butterflies. Bees, yes, the 20,000
species or so do a huge percentage of pollination. Some plants depend
entirely on bees for this function. However, when it comes to
butterflies, a different story emerges. Other insects, such as <a href="http://pollinatingbee.blogspot.com/2009/10/syrphus-fly-pollinator-and-aphid-eater.html" target="_blank">flies</a>,
<a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/fig_wasp.shtml" target="_blank">wasps</a> and <a href="http://pollinators.blogspot.com/2012/04/moths-as-pollinators.html" target="_blank">moths</a> are known to do a respectable amount of pollination,
probably far more than butterflies do. Some of the mentioned insects
are indispensable to certain plants, such as figs, cacao and yucca.
<a href="http://pollinators.blogspot.com/2014/10/blowflies-are-pollinators-too.html" target="_blank">Some flies are used in farming</a>.<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLwBGNp7BGLoKxupVZXrrmPbtzQtrizPwoa7h-87PXuPFC7Dx38hmkJ6xsjgvT-mRtDhSU7ipuSMpswkVCaynqxnR-1WabStgMZBHzZVLAxA4lDQXfdbVhL1BCVa8DvryqmBA530kU0bf/s1600/goldenrod.collage.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLwBGNp7BGLoKxupVZXrrmPbtzQtrizPwoa7h-87PXuPFC7Dx38hmkJ6xsjgvT-mRtDhSU7ipuSMpswkVCaynqxnR-1WabStgMZBHzZVLAxA4lDQXfdbVhL1BCVa8DvryqmBA530kU0bf/s320/goldenrod.collage.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A great variety of pollinators and flower visitors
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
© Beatriz Moisset</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Butterflies visit flowers but that
alone doesn't make them good pollinators. They are easily noticed
because of their large size and color. That is why the general public
takes notice, but biologists have not paid a lot of attention to the
role of butterflies as pollinators. So it would be nice to know a
little more about them and how much credit they deserve.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrpxgM-GScDhecuKdTJOf_gqxRzeKw_6niIJkApQQJdhvY0ods1l6pl6e5lRa4hWoMVl7HrI8ZMXHdMS0Dx02rzRAPlOb2kQIzVJyLv-09lU7_7HyVrXfLxrMumBC4jIHlVI0A1x1Egce/s1600/IMG_8427.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrpxgM-GScDhecuKdTJOf_gqxRzeKw_6niIJkApQQJdhvY0ods1l6pl6e5lRa4hWoMVl7HrI8ZMXHdMS0Dx02rzRAPlOb2kQIzVJyLv-09lU7_7HyVrXfLxrMumBC4jIHlVI0A1x1Egce/s320/IMG_8427.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bumble bee on <i>Helenium</i>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
© Beatriz Moisset</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Let us compare a bumble bee with a
butterfly in a field full of ragworts, for instance. Ragworts are
pretty, daisy-like, rather weedy yellow flowers. A bumble bee
hastily gathers pollen and nectar and moves on quickly from blossom
to blossom in one plant, next it moves on to the next plant and the
next, without wasting any time. It finally rushes home to feed a
hungry brood with the gathered supplies. A butterfly, on the other
hand, is free from family obligations. It only needs some nectar to
quench its thirst so it la<span style="font-size: small;">zily</span> sits on a flower,
unfolds its long tongue and drinks at leisure. It takes off and
wanders away apparently aimlessly. Farther down it may finally land
on another flower and drink some more nectar. Later on it may visit
another plant a good distance from the previous ones and so on.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
It is obvious that the bumble bee
performs more pollination because of its diligent behavior. However,
the butterfly is doing something important by transporting pollen to
plants that are a good distance from each other. It is performing<a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/2407999?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents" target="_blank"> cross pollination</a> and ensuring a good mixing of genes. Plants benefit
from this increase in genetic diversity. Furthermore, recently
researchers have learned that the pollen, stuck to a butterfly's long
tongue, stays fresh for a good time and ensures this valuable
pollination at a distance.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYchmNPkT3TXYAvsreK1icv6oDZwEJ_Ev0DjBDJCp8tvaWuenPjWwvsNpgsMzb2rQM5hnOOfhtZdLadMS9YB53pd3Q7c7xcRiQO9EWKPYLAhp0GkpdgLX7yLhqCGndrn9emXI01wXxErI/s1600/IMG_8419.w.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYchmNPkT3TXYAvsreK1icv6oDZwEJ_Ev0DjBDJCp8tvaWuenPjWwvsNpgsMzb2rQM5hnOOfhtZdLadMS9YB53pd3Q7c7xcRiQO9EWKPYLAhp0GkpdgLX7yLhqCGndrn9emXI01wXxErI/s320/IMG_8419.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red banded hair streak butterfly on <i>Helenium</i>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
© Beatriz Moisset</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Butterflies seem to do more pollination
in tropical regions than in temperate ones. Butterflies and
hummingbirds are good at finding nectar inside long-necked or trumpet
shaped flowers. They are attracted by red flowers, which are rather
common in the tropics. Bees are color blind to the red color and
prefer yellow and blue or purple ones. Butterflies, like
hummingbirds, have a good vision for the red color.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A number of flowers are completely
dependent on butterflies for pollination. Some South African orchids
fall in this category. Another flower dependent on a butterfly for
pollination is a member of the pea family, the<a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/2259342?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents" target="_blank"> Peacock Flower</a> that
grows in the Caribbean.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbIg_sNSa4EZtSvj9bOh7eT0COp0vSjtPBEDcvBGOuD5eElDGclxk1F8i_xEeBBen1lkt6tQ2Fjx46JCthoq7y2Hz7aI3d7h3Lm3r7ib1zdJCtdJBWtcPTFghWPS-4IzCYJpqq_u9_qFo/s1600/PA052201.03w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbIg_sNSa4EZtSvj9bOh7eT0COp0vSjtPBEDcvBGOuD5eElDGclxk1F8i_xEeBBen1lkt6tQ2Fjx46JCthoq7y2Hz7aI3d7h3Lm3r7ib1zdJCtdJBWtcPTFghWPS-4IzCYJpqq_u9_qFo/s320/PA052201.03w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Orange sulphur butterfly on asters</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Notice the long tongue</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
© Beatriz Moisset
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In summary, butterflies, while not the
most efficient pollinators, are important, even essential, in some instances.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Also see:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/2407999?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents" target="_blank">Pollinator Foraging Behavior and Gene Dispersal in Senecio (Compositae)</a> (contribute to cross
pollination, farther distances than bumble bees)<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/zebra_longwing.shtml" target="_blank">Zebra Longwing Butterfly (<i>Heliconius charitonia</i>)</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/fritillary.shtml" target="_blank">Fritillary: A Pretty Butterfly and a Good Pollinator</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://pollinatingbee.blogspot.com/2010/02/list-of-articles.html">List of articles</a><br />
<a href="http://polinizador.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/an-easy-guide-to-the-most-frequent-flower-visitors/">Beginners
Guide to Pollinators and Other Flower Visitors</a><br />
<br />
<span class="unicode"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset. 2017</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-61767361376943682682016-11-14T12:15:00.002-08:002017-09-03T12:16:09.550-07:00It is Cold Outside. Where did all the Butterflies Go? <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwY2oVhBD5BvVjB5rMPTNavBOkkskdx00ejSSlBjHxs4GFKn_-S3JD0nFlbbNZcanMQPuXlh8Ruu29_QPfUSNXgpKVaJhQO-tPTm3wYL-az03ru7r4pte4hEkt99LWnoQQRiJd34NtyudG/s1600/fritill-copy.ww_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwY2oVhBD5BvVjB5rMPTNavBOkkskdx00ejSSlBjHxs4GFKn_-S3JD0nFlbbNZcanMQPuXlh8Ruu29_QPfUSNXgpKVaJhQO-tPTm3wYL-az03ru7r4pte4hEkt99LWnoQQRiJd34NtyudG/s320/fritill-copy.ww_.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Great spangled fritillary (<i>Speyeria
cybele</i>)<br />
Its tiny caterpillars will survive the winter<br />
©
Beatriz Moisset</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Winter has arrived. What happened to
all the six legged creatures we saw in summer? Where did the
crawling, scuttling, flitting, buzzing multitudes go? Those of us who
live in temperate and colder climates notice the disappearance of
practically all insects when the weather gets cold. We are talking
about the ones that live outdoors, not about those aggravating
creatures that turn our houses into their homes.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgw9wMs_xuImwIfDBeLTmrKB4Fo3SzGn0tcCcMzcmm1W-jvNlx2B06sR1h4WIg63gMwe0w8xk9oltPErETa_VW1sa0eQci5hCHf9IKiuIk2xUIercOo278vhyIrA6BWDOZFNrWda2d8N8/s1600/P7061962.vanessa.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgw9wMs_xuImwIfDBeLTmrKB4Fo3SzGn0tcCcMzcmm1W-jvNlx2B06sR1h4WIg63gMwe0w8xk9oltPErETa_VW1sa0eQci5hCHf9IKiuIk2xUIercOo278vhyIrA6BWDOZFNrWda2d8N8/s320/P7061962.vanessa.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Red admiral (<i>Vanessa atalanta</i>), one of
the travelers<br />
© Beatriz Moisset</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Some
of our favorite butterflies illustrate three
different winter strategies.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">1. Most
adult butterflies die, the next generation lives on</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">2. A few
migrate to warmer climates</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">3. Even
fewer hunker down and wait for spring to come</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Read the <b><a href="http://beautifulnativeplants.blogspot.com/2016/11/it-is-cold-outside-where-did-all.html" target="_blank">whole article</a></b></span></span></b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://pollinatingbee.blogspot.com/2010/02/list-of-articles.html">List of articles</a><br />
<a href="http://polinizador.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/an-easy-guide-to-the-most-frequent-flower-visitors/">Beginners
Guide to Pollinators and Other Flower Visitors</a><br />
<br />
<span class="unicode"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset. 2016</span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b> </b> </span></span></b>Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-50453934681069909582016-09-26T13:21:00.001-07:002017-09-03T12:16:56.696-07:00Ecosystem Engineers and the Web of Life<div lang="es-ES" style="line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbMh1afB24jEOgk_KcjryNlHjKvEbhe8q_USHMEjOTQ0RALyrZEt-hTpCzTCfwWK0PVnDWR3Zrt4vfQktB8PQNZ3NehyphenhyphennUmjQGUC9dhpLjBOsymxOBPGhZmZv9XG4267dsyEHJB8fQ0AL/s1600/P9020006.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbMh1afB24jEOgk_KcjryNlHjKvEbhe8q_USHMEjOTQ0RALyrZEt-hTpCzTCfwWK0PVnDWR3Zrt4vfQktB8PQNZ3NehyphenhyphennUmjQGUC9dhpLjBOsymxOBPGhZmZv9XG4267dsyEHJB8fQ0AL/s320/P9020006.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Goldenrod
in bloom</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="text-decoration: none;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></span></span></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3ckZ9xvYlfqlhCL8M16YltRw5izj6cBUGW4yEeJEEEoPk3USDBYklNMm6V3R4auAaiKRS5lxd5BMDTIlAiS0_iptN9G9mNcXHFIGutimzm6sl89vUGzGfcJ7j_UrOI5UUvaMqtJAteha/s1600/IMG_6147.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3ckZ9xvYlfqlhCL8M16YltRw5izj6cBUGW4yEeJEEEoPk3USDBYklNMm6V3R4auAaiKRS5lxd5BMDTIlAiS0_iptN9G9mNcXHFIGutimzm6sl89vUGzGfcJ7j_UrOI5UUvaMqtJAteha/s320/IMG_6147.w.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Goldenrod
bunch gall</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="text-decoration: none;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></span></span></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This
time of the year, fields and meadows are usually covered by a
plethora goldenrods particularly the tall variety, known as <i>Solidago
altissima</i>. Goldenrods nurture a huge variety of small creatures. Some
feast on the rich pollen and nectar of their flowers. Others find
ways to feed on the not so nutritious leaves and stems. The plants
are so abundant and vigorous that they survive quite well the
onslaught of all these feeders.<br />
<br /></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKi2_4WlyT4Vxr1XNX5nuS4RIzh5zyBqKRhCi5EFybrnXHqT8Q26i7C4d8fmzxC0xzzEhlc_ftl46szcE0O8hxpWLU8CErpKVzsGpX7d6wxrAWW2psefyFN5STTLRvZSzDI_Cu-wTJ5w_P/s1600/IMG_9009.10.1.10fw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKi2_4WlyT4Vxr1XNX5nuS4RIzh5zyBqKRhCi5EFybrnXHqT8Q26i7C4d8fmzxC0xzzEhlc_ftl46szcE0O8hxpWLU8CErpKVzsGpX7d6wxrAWW2psefyFN5STTLRvZSzDI_Cu-wTJ5w_P/s320/IMG_9009.10.1.10fw.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Rhopalomyia
solidaginis</span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">(Goldenrod
bunch gall midge)</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="text-decoration: none;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></span></span></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4CWeTAuwUdAObXW-u1_wYi-_MvknpdUBwrjsYHIIwa6DEw3GEiW1_jVWZsOwphcYp3R7_48HccqKC78qFyVi0FAn3NVBv1gqliJxY0ZOmK6pseFLIPPuZky8t9DSSOlbahE_WcgXw5TN/s1600/IMG_8976.10.1.10wrhopalom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4CWeTAuwUdAObXW-u1_wYi-_MvknpdUBwrjsYHIIwa6DEw3GEiW1_jVWZsOwphcYp3R7_48HccqKC78qFyVi0FAn3NVBv1gqliJxY0ZOmK6pseFLIPPuZky8t9DSSOlbahE_WcgXw5TN/s320/IMG_8976.10.1.10wrhopalom.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Rhopalomyia
solidaginis</span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">L</span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="text-decoration: none;">arva
inside gall</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="text-decoration: none;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></span></span></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The
goldenrod bunch gall midge is one of a number of goldenrod
feeders that have developed interesting techniques to feed and stay
safe from predators at the same time. The larva of this midge injects
special substances into the tips of the goldenrod stems. These
substances stimulate an unusual vigorous sprouting of the growing
stem and leaves. A tight bunch or cluster of leaves with a
nutritious, tender center develops. These clusters can be quite
numerous in a field of goldenrods. They are easy to spot and they are
known by the name of bunch galls. They provide both nourishment and
shelter to the insect.</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PHXe6Og20x7woVSTeXi-iyZzK7q21AlNyvf7rQfkElv6OqW_0jgug_nibXe7xFQjS_pLjkkRmRIIB0WOv0aMW14g1d8PLhDQxcrx6RSPqfliYaCq9ebuyYRN6_PHjc2HsEmbwXw0ySP_/s1600/IMG_0075.10.20.09w.platygaster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PHXe6Og20x7woVSTeXi-iyZzK7q21AlNyvf7rQfkElv6OqW_0jgug_nibXe7xFQjS_pLjkkRmRIIB0WOv0aMW14g1d8PLhDQxcrx6RSPqfliYaCq9ebuyYRN6_PHjc2HsEmbwXw0ySP_/s320/IMG_0075.10.20.09w.platygaster.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Parasitic
wasps, </span></span></span></span></span><a href="http://bugguide.net/node/view/335770"><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="es-ES"><i><span style="text-decoration: none;">Platygaster</span></i></span></span></span></span><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
sp</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="text-decoration: none;">
</span></span></span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="text-decoration: none;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></span></span></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="es-ES">This
story doesn</span><span lang="en-US">'t end there. </span><span lang="es-ES">The
midge creates conditions favorable to other small creatures when it
builds the bunch gall. Tiny beetles and wasps find a nice place to
hide and even raise their families in the bunches of leaves.
Curiously, the galls go beyond that. When dead, they become compost
and enrich the soil in a larger scale than goldenrod plants free from
galls.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLI3EDBXAYY7foP1jNufFTSH2EjTVk0boOMaL5u0TMBQGWJg9IcmMkBsKnB8yJfDnrzhqQF3HaSb2T7tbhsifAbpVIGfxf5X4ERlojnWI8muwhiOtoUIM25xrco94Vho8Zh18qD7zs2R3t/s1600/IMG_1096.9.24.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLI3EDBXAYY7foP1jNufFTSH2EjTVk0boOMaL5u0TMBQGWJg9IcmMkBsKnB8yJfDnrzhqQF3HaSb2T7tbhsifAbpVIGfxf5X4ERlojnWI8muwhiOtoUIM25xrco94Vho8Zh18qD7zs2R3t/s320/IMG_1096.9.24.08.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><i>Microrhopala
vittata</i> (Goldenrod Leaf Miner)</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="text-decoration: none;">Inside
bunch gall</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="text-decoration: none;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></span></span></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWSxi8dJa7NRWukRj0AH6sgOFmoy6BoGX0ptDGAyPAPEAjRR7IJo5zYGl5ZAt_zehyphenhyphenUzdbBIB69rVxaOWzDupiUAiYOkiCHEhoPgINxPiX7VG-t1IX4dO48lgar8cuZqgQjudM1YtX2Uj/s1600/IMG_1121.9.25.08w%252Cmicrorhopala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKWSxi8dJa7NRWukRj0AH6sgOFmoy6BoGX0ptDGAyPAPEAjRR7IJo5zYGl5ZAt_zehyphenhyphenUzdbBIB69rVxaOWzDupiUAiYOkiCHEhoPgINxPiX7VG-t1IX4dO48lgar8cuZqgQjudM1YtX2Uj/s320/IMG_1121.9.25.08w%252Cmicrorhopala.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Microrhopala vittata</i>
(Goldenrod Leaf Miner)</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="text-decoration: none;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></span></span></span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This
is reminiscent of what beavers do. These animals build dams which
provide habitat for fish and frogs and other animals. This have
earned them the name of ecosystem engineers. The goldenrod gall midge
is also an ecosystem engineer, although in smaller scale. It is
surprising how such an insignificant and easily ignored tiny insect
can contribute to the web of life.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Further Readings</b><br />
<br />
<b>
</b>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://bugguide.net/node/view/10485" target="_blank"><span lang="es-ES"><i>Rhopalomia solidaginis</i></span></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://pollinatingbee.blogspot.com/2010/02/list-of-articles.html">List of articles</a><br />
<a href="http://polinizador.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/an-easy-guide-to-the-most-frequent-flower-visitors/">Beginners
Guide to Pollinators and Other Flower Visitors</a><br />
<br />
<span class="unicode"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset. 2016</span></span><br />
</div>
<b> </b> </div>
Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-34807433591002746602016-06-19T07:08:00.001-07:002017-09-03T12:17:30.173-07:00Bees and Biodiversity<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBISsrRH0j7iWPIA2eaHkYdcUUojNiVtJYu9Q1A50_6nHxODQOK0mlAN1G6SOBYUaMpoqHhXHwmjP8Zo41AAE-xpKe2pAPnO8jwP1M1GYiFs_3xTQMQss0N1PdLOacaKg88gjwB2mrlljb/s1600/Bombus+ternarius++mountain+mint.2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBISsrRH0j7iWPIA2eaHkYdcUUojNiVtJYu9Q1A50_6nHxODQOK0mlAN1G6SOBYUaMpoqHhXHwmjP8Zo41AAE-xpKe2pAPnO8jwP1M1GYiFs_3xTQMQss0N1PdLOacaKg88gjwB2mrlljb/s320/Bombus+ternarius++mountain+mint.2006.jpg" width="320" /></a></i></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bombus ternarius, </i>Tricolored bumble bee<i> </i>on mountain mint</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Recently I discussed
the idea of allowing dandelions on the lawn to benefit pollinators. I
pointed out that such practice only benefits a handful of generalist
pollinators, but not the specialists. The latter can be more numerous
than the former when they are all counted. They also account for the
wide diversity of nature.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxG-uRvjyOYdS2iBM5bUXQU7lDAIyP8qVzCbl24WF3Cy1NcJG0UXyvtfOcjTf1kh9RfMM1unLLKkWCJlYJH0i6e5wiCjat3k3kuqhb5utRGvKm77qNCXc3fBIaB6NdXFTVNkASniKzb0P/s1600/Bombus+impatiens+blanket+flower+2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxG-uRvjyOYdS2iBM5bUXQU7lDAIyP8qVzCbl24WF3Cy1NcJG0UXyvtfOcjTf1kh9RfMM1unLLKkWCJlYJH0i6e5wiCjat3k3kuqhb5utRGvKm77qNCXc3fBIaB6NdXFTVNkASniKzb0P/s320/Bombus+impatiens+blanket+flower+2009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bombus impatiens</i>, Common Eastern Bumble Bee on blanket flower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4SJC21ArSXF5tBkaUP0HCu1a4bsXW1b5jeI6aTUbaQoF474bvC53Vqf0cWtTAJi2tBEW8FCFGob2UC-ZGMrpWcI2G7xsTWjVcvXvR5P4CgLljTDAGekVyzH_kkr3r-9tddmfJo02oIhY/s1600/azalea+andrena+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji4SJC21ArSXF5tBkaUP0HCu1a4bsXW1b5jeI6aTUbaQoF474bvC53Vqf0cWtTAJi2tBEW8FCFGob2UC-ZGMrpWcI2G7xsTWjVcvXvR5P4CgLljTDAGekVyzH_kkr3r-9tddmfJo02oIhY/s320/azalea+andrena+2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Andrena cornelli, </i>Azalea andrena on azalea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Let me expand on the
concept of biological diversity or, as it is often called by
ecologists, biodiversity. There are 4,000 species of bees in North
America, from the familiar, big and plump bumble bees to tiny bee
species that remain unnoticed to all except to those who study bees.
Bear in mind that even bumble bees aren't just one single species but
about 46 in North America.</div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJT6ACbjdvHu4nqMyEItOAZx8Y8q-zEI36Ibbg-a5CgVArYR6oNGoIOw_lcARb_XU4BanON_Xr9HmB-SfMu-bm6RRS4eFK5JWG7IAq4Q4PATlGgumVohdU3AMKmtWsb8iBVXsCTX5jG6ie/s1600/augochlora+pura.+2005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJT6ACbjdvHu4nqMyEItOAZx8Y8q-zEI36Ibbg-a5CgVArYR6oNGoIOw_lcARb_XU4BanON_Xr9HmB-SfMu-bm6RRS4eFK5JWG7IAq4Q4PATlGgumVohdU3AMKmtWsb8iBVXsCTX5jG6ie/s320/augochlora+pura.+2005.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Augochlora pura </i>on thistle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvU34cRFj_bFfqaexnoZFH-mfgo58C-vcJcMp4hictEw9jm2itpdqDrmcXAZYJ3sbnlTH44gYeW0seniMc0fr2weCCVqA5qGhZSVBrSdHDgNZgXBYMVeKTvzjClEJmPRrcBeQauBmKYqyn/s1600/Nomada+spring+beauty+2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvU34cRFj_bFfqaexnoZFH-mfgo58C-vcJcMp4hictEw9jm2itpdqDrmcXAZYJ3sbnlTH44gYeW0seniMc0fr2weCCVqA5qGhZSVBrSdHDgNZgXBYMVeKTvzjClEJmPRrcBeQauBmKYqyn/s320/Nomada+spring+beauty+2009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Nomada, </i>cuckoo bee on spring beauty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bee species vary not
only in size but in many other ways. Some are active from early
spring to the end of fall. Others complete their whole cycle in just
a few weeks and remain dormant the rest of the year. Some are adapted
to different climates and cover a large area, others are more limited in their geographic distribution.<br />
<br />
There are even some species, called cuckoo
bees, that don't bother raising a family. Instead, just as cuckoo
birds, lay their eggs in the nests of other bees.<br />
<br />
Some bees have a long
tongue that enables them to reach into fairly deep throated flowers.
Others can only visit flowers that are relatively flat and open.
Finally, some are very particular about the flowers they visit.They collect pollen from only
one species of plants (monolectic) or a few related species (oligolectic). They may visit a wider range of flowers for nectar, but only their choice plants will satisfy their pollen needs.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDchUf4XmE7_jvG8az-FPmW2qBJfjZ8n-s5BBNNmrKb40eivbWK-73N73LXHjsCw8u5T6mzKPLhcSpWb9CA9zPaS6hNpwBhyphenhyphendaLMfT431mPtWScq8VCrVdC-cUNHeli5w6V4dLhoTBr507/s1600/Agapostemon+splendens+seaside+goldenrod.2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDchUf4XmE7_jvG8az-FPmW2qBJfjZ8n-s5BBNNmrKb40eivbWK-73N73LXHjsCw8u5T6mzKPLhcSpWb9CA9zPaS6hNpwBhyphenhyphendaLMfT431mPtWScq8VCrVdC-cUNHeli5w6V4dLhoTBr507/s320/Agapostemon+splendens+seaside+goldenrod.2009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Agapostemon splendens</i> on seaside goldenrod</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RS15QajRuLPi1ildGBHXaHdB9jO-K8mYJ9GmSEYoao6Wsl8S3ifmItbdCzgtpUBDZo8KUfKXDdAsvConVkbSqH_bJ1fAP-uoyKva_MFBgANE220gu_HiLQUKqlWLEH507rY-sxOPhWU7/s1600/Lasioglossum+pilosum+coneflower.2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RS15QajRuLPi1ildGBHXaHdB9jO-K8mYJ9GmSEYoao6Wsl8S3ifmItbdCzgtpUBDZo8KUfKXDdAsvConVkbSqH_bJ1fAP-uoyKva_MFBgANE220gu_HiLQUKqlWLEH507rY-sxOPhWU7/s320/Lasioglossum+pilosum+coneflower.2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Lasioglossum pilosum </i>on coneflower</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Losing a few of
these specialists may not be catastrophic, but it is preferable to
preserve as many of them as possible. A rich variety of species
confers resilience to an ecosystem. This is why it is important to
have a wide range of specialists along with the handful of
generalists. One way to help the specialists is to plant a variety of native plants to ensure that some of them satisfy their needs. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnAao00C-gNYnR2PdQxpUv8Di-XB_bZg9vlKrMQ5ekkKOyR6fPMed3KOPQUzo72FFh34USEioEMmYEBcQ8pdj9BZ9NtPinuwOCdvzNACAyn7_-PLffqz6a0TL0kdzneeuJ05_vTI3RHml/s1600/colletes+cerceris.2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnAao00C-gNYnR2PdQxpUv8Di-XB_bZg9vlKrMQ5ekkKOyR6fPMed3KOPQUzo72FFh34USEioEMmYEBcQ8pdj9BZ9NtPinuwOCdvzNACAyn7_-PLffqz6a0TL0kdzneeuJ05_vTI3RHml/s320/colletes+cerceris.2014.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Colletes </i>on <i>Cerceris canadensis</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfHx3dUMHLezRuqrCMbNJZS7sh6huqPJuYKNqycfjIyAIcpzvE3E_TnW_dgnDjoQBY-UHvzyDtuUR3p4uze2lh6wDvVlj5ujkP-5R5reWqpKFn1GKhIGL6cC7BjIWNj2Sue9P9Y_Q4Nnl/s1600/Bombus+perplexus.milkweed.2006.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfHx3dUMHLezRuqrCMbNJZS7sh6huqPJuYKNqycfjIyAIcpzvE3E_TnW_dgnDjoQBY-UHvzyDtuUR3p4uze2lh6wDvVlj5ujkP-5R5reWqpKFn1GKhIGL6cC7BjIWNj2Sue9P9Y_Q4Nnl/s320/Bombus+perplexus.milkweed.2006.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bombus perplexus,</i> confusing bumble bee on common milkweed<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRANG23XXB7-5OoYNZIWJ1JEo5u8YMG72SGPPejHqNTyTTUUReXFLmSwP9jSw_z0aHS-1_3D1XNCwlMqOzhwenukIlvkYmVAwgS45SBxAFJJ4Fz9RTEUlSZWF1br0bAgPX3LQeA99amUqM/s1600/longorned+bee+sunflower+2010.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRANG23XXB7-5OoYNZIWJ1JEo5u8YMG72SGPPejHqNTyTTUUReXFLmSwP9jSw_z0aHS-1_3D1XNCwlMqOzhwenukIlvkYmVAwgS45SBxAFJJ4Fz9RTEUlSZWF1br0bAgPX3LQeA99amUqM/s320/longorned+bee+sunflower+2010.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long horned bee on sunflower</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i></i><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
All images <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://pollinatingbee.blogspot.com/2010/02/list-of-articles.html">List of articles</a><br />
<a href="http://polinizador.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/an-easy-guide-to-the-most-frequent-flower-visitors/">Beginners
Guide to Pollinators and Other Flower Visitors</a><br />
<br />
<span class="unicode"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset. 2016</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"> </span></span> </div>
<br />
<br />Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-86327286688553777792016-05-16T04:51:00.000-07:002019-05-23T15:49:56.580-07:00Early Spring Pollinators and their Flowers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIVgcVUHuTobUNhvoNUIwSWUOFU6RZzWcEGeg3oj6nnWJXClWJkmAYNyppsCAWkYTBw39Ru5uipZR9LT2JVUrjyJ_UM9lA8Z-3GfEoDBaL11XmjICwQ_qtdiWFONjRFYGLhmxZsMTjTUf/s1600/IMG_2627.bluebell.w.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIVgcVUHuTobUNhvoNUIwSWUOFU6RZzWcEGeg3oj6nnWJXClWJkmAYNyppsCAWkYTBw39Ru5uipZR9LT2JVUrjyJ_UM9lA8Z-3GfEoDBaL11XmjICwQ_qtdiWFONjRFYGLhmxZsMTjTUf/s320/IMG_2627.bluebell.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Bluebells
and carpenter bee</span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.14in;">
<span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Many
gardeners are developing a new concern for pollinators. They look for
ways to help them. Aware that a perfectly manicured, pesticide-laden
lawn is not good for pollinators they enthusiastically adopt a
scattering of dandelions in the early spring.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This
is certainly beneficial to pollinators. However some of the
passionate claims that accompany this activity are somewhat
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">exaggerated</span></span></span><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">.
It is not true that pollinators “need” dandelions. They would
prefer other flowers if they had a chance.</span></span></div>
<span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPOgd_4FQRdEDy-wxmj_e-GDwHBNtRYQxidAOMcPgJNEp-cWsSLw64SDUpcyc4rNT1hy_-YFcB7IyLhHsiL6eUwuddasweHeEdJ-lTSgNXdx8tLUkZEnuMQZ0gQIrAzVJ1o5S2mxMvWeZ/s1600/IMG_7089.spicebush.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPOgd_4FQRdEDy-wxmj_e-GDwHBNtRYQxidAOMcPgJNEp-cWsSLw64SDUpcyc4rNT1hy_-YFcB7IyLhHsiL6eUwuddasweHeEdJ-lTSgNXdx8tLUkZEnuMQZ0gQIrAzVJ1o5S2mxMvWeZ/s320/IMG_7089.spicebush.w.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Spicebush in bloom</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></span></div>
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</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8Tm4XqoTA72NB6coupCkMWR5VYLsJImRaUNCFEtS-uy5mEvYN83kvZcxlZDcGb0C_jRLulfZG-TVUxd5Iiak3dEggB68b0IAtxsjAIFS-nAVEePLsbDluM1vfxcQN5i776c3JMGG41L8/s1600/IMG_0704.spicebush+bee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8Tm4XqoTA72NB6coupCkMWR5VYLsJImRaUNCFEtS-uy5mEvYN83kvZcxlZDcGb0C_jRLulfZG-TVUxd5Iiak3dEggB68b0IAtxsjAIFS-nAVEePLsbDluM1vfxcQN5i776c3JMGG41L8/s320/IMG_0704.spicebush+bee.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Spicebush
and pollinator</span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></span></div>
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<span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Before
dandelions were introduced from Europe and before lawns became so
rampant in our suburbs, early spring pollinators were faced with a
</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">smorgasbord</span></span></span><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
of early spring flowers. Here is an incomplete list of the so-called
spring ephemerals prevalent where I live, in the Mid-Atlantic region:
spring beauty, trout lily, trillium, columbines, rue anemones,
Dutchman's britches, bloodroot and bluebells. These and others can
still be found in nature areas, although they have become extremely
rare in gardens and parks. Perhaps even more important to early
spring pollinators are a number of trees and shrubs, such as willows,
maples (some, not all of them), serviceberry, sassafras, spicebush,
redbud, and a little later, azaleas and dogwoods, just to name a few.</span></span><br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KpIcB9EyHWcsWyEQPbgxWqcAy8tyIPodi9bPv5cWGOEmMIBK22g0d-76Fu81OJ2EuVXVIcq31iLuaYn7ufo1PND0yBrsWLGXqG4D4SyRyMwUbKTA3gt45nXqmcN-AxWz6CiB5iyCY0go/s1600/P5030281.05w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KpIcB9EyHWcsWyEQPbgxWqcAy8tyIPodi9bPv5cWGOEmMIBK22g0d-76Fu81OJ2EuVXVIcq31iLuaYn7ufo1PND0yBrsWLGXqG4D4SyRyMwUbKTA3gt45nXqmcN-AxWz6CiB5iyCY0go/s320/P5030281.05w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Spring
beauty and spring beauty Andrena</span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></span></div>
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<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This assortment of flowering plants offers a rich and diverse diet to
newly awakened queen bumble bees, early Andrena bees, and other bees
and flies seeking pollen and nectar. Some pollinators are specialists
on just one or a limited variety of flowers. The spring beauty
Andrena, trout lily Andrena and several willow blossom devotees would
look at dandelions in despair, not being able to make any use of
them.</div>
</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4QRavaprKtwG2ZHt4A9IEF9s6zJ7_9TJ0qB_9EXdnxzoWZsmpT3V82wGLwwALkRGvIXjUXbxCALHY8Ff8abj-TSQOKT4Ozb8td29UEmlo1kl_YQkPNa1CHCGLy5iKyROVKRFzciKUfPO/s1600/P4222142.03.troutlily.fix.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4QRavaprKtwG2ZHt4A9IEF9s6zJ7_9TJ0qB_9EXdnxzoWZsmpT3V82wGLwwALkRGvIXjUXbxCALHY8Ff8abj-TSQOKT4Ozb8td29UEmlo1kl_YQkPNa1CHCGLy5iKyROVKRFzciKUfPO/s320/P4222142.03.troutlily.fix.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Trout
lily, frequently visited</span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">by
the trout lily Andrena</span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></span></div>
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<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The biotic community described above not only nourishes early-riser
pollinators but also provides food and habitat for local wildlife.
For instance, the red maple serves as a host plant for more than 100
moth species, willows provide food for several hundred species of
moths. In turn, these caterpillars nourish birds and other wildlife.
By contrast a lawn with dandelions is an impoverished ecosystem with
very limited ecological value, more similar to a refugee camp than to
a healthy, lively community.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAa4dh-bvDAQLO3gk3MbMsSlNGgH6pgX4yUwG3T6eQiXdXK0wg8HN6ZhB9gJHrwzVDMKiHBS3udcIfU1M3GIyuf_sXhfbgglYqjE2ABftesG9BG_bZauLwubJ51n3FWaPms0Yg8Zd0jal/s1600/IMG_5605.azalea+bee.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmAa4dh-bvDAQLO3gk3MbMsSlNGgH6pgX4yUwG3T6eQiXdXK0wg8HN6ZhB9gJHrwzVDMKiHBS3udcIfU1M3GIyuf_sXhfbgglYqjE2ABftesG9BG_bZauLwubJ51n3FWaPms0Yg8Zd0jal/s320/IMG_5605.azalea+bee.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Azalea
and its specialist</span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">the
azalea Andrena</span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
If the goal is to help pollinators we would reduce the size of the
lawn and grow some of the plants mentioned above rather than simply
allowing dandelions among the blades of grass.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOWrQnP-EoNZOa1Zi2nSIg9OUy0n1qhMnPANGKa8x5dItynFCKItMcHfgqnnTFOrLOZneZeKlnspzInIkvgHUB_hdS2fzwamTJkTBq5mri3-6xsTS6CmPVWz8bTuSj_Of1xWfPZ9ZKHP0/s1600/P4170373.bloodroot.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHOWrQnP-EoNZOa1Zi2nSIg9OUy0n1qhMnPANGKa8x5dItynFCKItMcHfgqnnTFOrLOZneZeKlnspzInIkvgHUB_hdS2fzwamTJkTBq5mri3-6xsTS6CmPVWz8bTuSj_Of1xWfPZ9ZKHP0/s320/P4170373.bloodroot.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Bloodroot
and Red-necked False Blister Beetle</span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Such
a goal is hard to achieve for most gardeners and probably impossible
or nearly impossible for many of them. So, reducing the use of
pesticides and allowing dandelions, as well as a few other small lawn
“weeds,” is a good decision. But anybody seriously </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">committed</span></span></span><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
to protecting, not just pollinators, but entire ecosystems would do
well to take a look at other alternatives.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52HQI35l6kopt4I0Gfe3WTY6qntMM6CKUMZsor5SvOjpXeXmfL2ezQld-gc0b7FlfacGXqsmzcqXll7qmOGizt0VCuvklG7XRPS39AcJFL6uS0ISu6TkrDLvq5cOwSGiDCx0S0npPGtO7/s1600/P4270337.dandelion+bee.w.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi52HQI35l6kopt4I0Gfe3WTY6qntMM6CKUMZsor5SvOjpXeXmfL2ezQld-gc0b7FlfacGXqsmzcqXll7qmOGizt0VCuvklG7XRPS39AcJFL6uS0ISu6TkrDLvq5cOwSGiDCx0S0npPGtO7/s320/P4270337.dandelion+bee.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dandelion visited by a
cuckoo bee</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></span>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitD9zTRj2aJMW1KWTSRdShLTbmdPh0PFjkjUArlFCiz0VVM2hJyVNKaFks8ZO_4inWzoveE9RYQUMzUFCKVd6brPsM6Hc1SfaLgCGv7xdZ_C9dsqdH7PAGYzgIfBQrlb-B_PqKUgPttCld/s1600/P4252151.dandelion+ants.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitD9zTRj2aJMW1KWTSRdShLTbmdPh0PFjkjUArlFCiz0VVM2hJyVNKaFks8ZO_4inWzoveE9RYQUMzUFCKVd6brPsM6Hc1SfaLgCGv7xdZ_C9dsqdH7PAGYzgIfBQrlb-B_PqKUgPttCld/s320/P4252151.dandelion+ants.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Dandelion
and ants</span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<a href="http://pollinatingbee.blogspot.com/2010/02/list-of-articles.html">List of articles</a><br />
<a href="http://polinizador.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/an-easy-guide-to-the-most-frequent-flower-visitors/">Beginners
Guide to Pollinators and Other Flower Visitors</a><br />
<br />
<span class="unicode"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset. 2016</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-919610388293818522016-05-11T08:07:00.001-07:002017-09-03T12:21:06.314-07:00Too Much Light!<div lang="es-ES" style="line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPn1MLmGZgDLlPv2H65dEBFIuFfXeTqvjIQ3FdEDYNmPniLyShMLpla4Kj2189b47FBwsOs6PreJXY1ePpRsO8b15Xu2QYUHwdNtFjZS_iMeoDY5DvAlDbOti4ER0OTI067gZq6Pgcejc/s1600/PA081175.contrast.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPn1MLmGZgDLlPv2H65dEBFIuFfXeTqvjIQ3FdEDYNmPniLyShMLpla4Kj2189b47FBwsOs6PreJXY1ePpRsO8b15Xu2QYUHwdNtFjZS_iMeoDY5DvAlDbOti4ER0OTI067gZq6Pgcejc/s320/PA081175.contrast.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Outdoor light</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Most of it is wasted, aiming to the
skies</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">© Beatriz Moisset</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Could it be that we have too many outdoor lights? Night lights have
become so abundant that they can be seen from space. Large cities are
beacons made of myriads of tiny dots of light. The planet has never
seen anything like it before. We know the benefits of good
illuminated streets and public areas. Could there be some drawbacks
too?</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
For one thing, we have lost the ability to see the night sky in all
its splendor. Most stars have become invisible to city dwellers. Even
in the suburbs and some distance from large cities, lights affect our
vision of the sky. Astronomers regret this deeply and have some
suggestions on how to mitigate the impact of night lights.</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Night lights have other effects worth discussing. We all know that
moths are attracted to lights. We often see a handful of them flying
aimlessly around our porch lights or finally settling on a wall for
the rest of the night. They are still there the next morning and
remain still for the day since they are not day fliers.</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
How does this affect moths? Undoubtedly, such behavior may cost some
of them their lives by exhaustion and lack of food. Does it matter?</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="http://pollinators.blogspot.com/2011/11/pollinators-night-shift.html" target="_blank">Many moths are pollinators of night flowers.</a> Nature is rich in its
approaches to issues. Although most flowers bloom and are pollinated
during the day, preferably when the sun is shining, a few take
advantage of the darkness of dawn and dusk and even the middle of the
night. Thus, they take advantage of certain flower visitors that have
developed a similar strategy, namely being active at night.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7YxqGUQyVpEozOZl7D-yI7R0C27cuA27tzGB9T5pgLgPMVcOKxUsXRqdJLTknqsXhekHEyDLaXCLSLOjja56AWaACgsA3AETMb5srmihvdLnEFyTlFAC9o1aWzXa7Drw5i2s9yst32aZ/s1600/IMG_5573.f.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7YxqGUQyVpEozOZl7D-yI7R0C27cuA27tzGB9T5pgLgPMVcOKxUsXRqdJLTknqsXhekHEyDLaXCLSLOjja56AWaACgsA3AETMb5srmihvdLnEFyTlFAC9o1aWzXa7Drw5i2s9yst32aZ/s320/IMG_5573.f.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Thyatira lorata</i> moth</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Attracted to night lights and</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
spending the day where it finally
rested</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">© Beatriz Moisset</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
This is how a partnership has developed between some flowers and
nocturnal moths. Ordinarily, such flowers are white or cream colored
and have strong scents, better to attract their pollinators. Moths,
in turn, have good night vision and a strong sense of smell.</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Getting back to light pollution, if it kills moths, it too may be
affecting the pollination of night blooms. We don't know this for
sure, but there are strong indications that this is the case. Also
some evidence points to night lights affecting the growth of some
plants by getting their schedule confused.</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We
should follow the suggestions provided by several websites on how to
minimize light pollution, for instance the <a href="http://physics.fau.edu/observatory/lightpol-prevent.html" target="_blank">Florida AtlanticUniversity website</a>
covers a lot of ground. One useful recommendation is "no light should be emitted above the source's horizontal plane."</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The <a href="http://www.mnn.com/your-home/remodeling-design/stories/5-ways-you-can-reduce-light-pollution" target="_blank">Mother Nature Network</a> lists five ways you can reduce light pollution:</span></span></span><br />
<ol>
<li><div style="line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Start
with the light switch</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Check
with your power company to see if you're paying for outdoor lighting</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Consider
replacing outdoor lights with intelligently designed, low-glare
fixtures</div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Place motion
sensors on essential outdoor lamps</div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Replace
conventional high-energy bulbs with efficient outdoor CFLs and LED
floodlights</div>
</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">However
most of these ideas, although excellent provide no significant
protection to pollinators and their plants.</span></span></span><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
For this purpose one valuable tip is to abstain from lighting the
landscape. There is no real need to illuminate your trees, shrubs and
the general area where they grow, so let us give up this kind of
lighting, please.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.14in; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHIOxadGUKCBBenBQLPnmQcFC3Gd1zvcIzRKpVCFntylbbwPZzIDGoAYoMFnqE9CwgpzLN_pFz5mivxA9-j8H1JsgH7w5qKT6w4K_SEy76c4soEjAaS2cqe-V_HJbfHt_b52dKTEX81pg/s1600/tigermoth.web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHIOxadGUKCBBenBQLPnmQcFC3Gd1zvcIzRKpVCFntylbbwPZzIDGoAYoMFnqE9CwgpzLN_pFz5mivxA9-j8H1JsgH7w5qKT6w4K_SEy76c4soEjAaS2cqe-V_HJbfHt_b52dKTEX81pg/s320/tigermoth.web.jpg" width="201" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Virginian tiger moth</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">© Beatriz Moisset</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<a href="http://pollinatingbee.blogspot.com/2010/02/list-of-articles.html">List of articles</a><br />
<a href="http://polinizador.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/an-easy-guide-to-the-most-frequent-flower-visitors/">Beginners
Guide to Pollinators and Other Flower Visitors</a><br />
<br />
<span class="unicode"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset. 2016</span></span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-38159403396564769502016-05-06T10:02:00.002-07:002017-09-03T12:19:22.834-07:00The Most Invasive Butterfly: Cabbage White Butterfly (Pieris rapae)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtWQOtYt7WEdswEF5l9p6lF0Fq-zxKVdYoL5aEybpUFF_uipJDBKbAO8ZGThiDwKKhLKFBLJ6JF0ZSKexAKok_2y_PN3h7k5OJPXZIaZNOJfq-d0emfnMdJxELbWt5H1GohsgSbpLhOeh/s1600/IMG_8475.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtWQOtYt7WEdswEF5l9p6lF0Fq-zxKVdYoL5aEybpUFF_uipJDBKbAO8ZGThiDwKKhLKFBLJ6JF0ZSKexAKok_2y_PN3h7k5OJPXZIaZNOJfq-d0emfnMdJxELbWt5H1GohsgSbpLhOeh/s320/IMG_8475.w.jpg" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A flock of cabbage
butterflies</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
(<i>Pieris rapae</i><span style="font-style: normal;">)</span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
If
you see a pretty white butterfly, more likely than not you are seeing
an invasive species that was accidentally introduced to this country
and to many other parts of the world more than a century ago.
</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
cabbage white butterfly is noticeable, pretty and soft, it visits
gardens, meadows, you name it. Perhaps the only places beyond its
reach are higher elevations. It starts flying early in the season and
produces several generations throughout the summer and fall. No
wonder it is seen so often.</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Rh7lNJ1j8A8HU2FcTsmXyj-kjSV5ZBU2KbDrc7paYttu6XClr7Dle7FzdJrP2Bve4JhuK3xGbJfJ49MvFEsOk9P9giVM5z8vUaz7iCrgFPCMer-q2tQx6I49oKpCZr2nL8AUbWo3R3IM/s1600/IMG_2454.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Rh7lNJ1j8A8HU2FcTsmXyj-kjSV5ZBU2KbDrc7paYttu6XClr7Dle7FzdJrP2Bve4JhuK3xGbJfJ49MvFEsOk9P9giVM5z8vUaz7iCrgFPCMer-q2tQx6I49oKpCZr2nL8AUbWo3R3IM/s320/IMG_2454.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Cabbage butterfly</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
(<i>Pieris rapae</i><span style="font-style: normal;">)</span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
name refers to the plant its caterpillar feeds on, cabbage. It also
eats other members of the mustard family, such as cauliflower and
kale </span></span><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: normal;">and</span></span><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
it is regarded as a serious pest. It also feeds on a number of wild,
non cultivated mustards, including the invasive garlic mustard.</span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The
cabbage butterfly is related to a group of native butterflies, the so
called whites, yellows and sulphurs or family Pieridae. Their colors,
as the names indicate are either whites or yellows. The caterpillars
of most of them also feed on plants of the mustard family. A total of
58 species lived in North America before the arrival of this
newcomer. Nowadays, the cabbage white is seen as often as all of them
combined. One wonders if the growing numbers of this invader are
having an impact on the populations of native Pieridae butterflies.</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tBvX0OCsZoyrXYjnJanW30AIPkGsh66qbffdUp6XxNAf3BX99aG7ifqXP8vpG4YvfY0tEcaO5qVrA64gwl4Hc4GRNg5Du9HGhphCo9uLqKP3WeNpb9NjLaCYOBH8pseVthziSMOjicNQ/s1600/P6285438.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tBvX0OCsZoyrXYjnJanW30AIPkGsh66qbffdUp6XxNAf3BX99aG7ifqXP8vpG4YvfY0tEcaO5qVrA64gwl4Hc4GRNg5Du9HGhphCo9uLqKP3WeNpb9NjLaCYOBH8pseVthziSMOjicNQ/s320/P6285438.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Orange sulphur butterfly</span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">(</span><i>Colias</i><span style="font-style: normal;">)</span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
In
summary, it has the qualities of so called weedy species, with high
rates of reproduction, very adaptable to different food sources and a
variety of habitats.</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcKA61MThv3G9gHrHVbJq4X1VgYT-JK-RyCJO6UP5bhFA2IH1doKaApFH7WXWmU_RFk1kpCy2B_p8QPcMXJmSkr6koWzHq2itO1VwndWBTPWrF8_tj9yA_tJTVxKgSjWSSvKI0yb90ibb/s1600/Pieris+virginiana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcKA61MThv3G9gHrHVbJq4X1VgYT-JK-RyCJO6UP5bhFA2IH1doKaApFH7WXWmU_RFk1kpCy2B_p8QPcMXJmSkr6koWzHq2itO1VwndWBTPWrF8_tj9yA_tJTVxKgSjWSSvKI0yb90ibb/s320/Pieris+virginiana.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Virginia
white butterfly</span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>Pieris virginiensis</i></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The
cabbage butterfly reminds me of several insect species that </span></span><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: normal;">were
brought to this country intentionally or accidentally and proceeded
to</span></span><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
become </span></span><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: normal;">incredibly
widespread in a relatively short time. Now, some of them are</span></span><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
more abundant than </span></span><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: normal;">any
of </span></span><span lang="es-ES"><span style="font-weight: normal;">their
native relatives. Here are a few examples: </span></span><span lang="en-US"><span style="font-weight: normal;">the
Asian ladybug, the Chinese mantis, the giant resin bee, the European
paper wasp, the drone fly, and the brown marmorated stink bug.</span></span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
David
Quammen, a distinguished journalist who has written extensively on
conservation and ecology, has coined the term “Planet of Weeds,”
meaning that the ecological changes caused by humans are having a
severe impact on the flora and fauna of the entire planet. We had
transported unprecedented numbers of species of plants, animals and
bacteria beyond their natural distributions with the consequence that
many of them have become established in their new surroundings. Not
only do they become established but spread out from the original
place of introduction, thus deserving the name of invasive species.
They impact the local flora and fauna, bringing up the extinction of
many species. In this way we are causing a mass extinction,
comparable to some of the most serious mass extinctions of the past.</div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div lang="en-US" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Specialist
species are more vulnerable to extinction. The ones that have the
best chance for survival are the weedy ones, the adaptable
generalists. We are creating an impoverished world, gradually losing
precious biological diversity, biodiversity for short. It may take
millions of years for this biodiversity to raise back to the present
levels. The human species may never see that.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KcCvLh3uDC3iVkFQKfiARiCgYWy2HA6h88CGKLK0q5VyhuLKX3itR2T2lpTtueEBb7WPU0zHkwmimuTx61bAXVlckwsN0Jaboix7NG7J6ehivvRZr3yqjdvoXd2qELGRULN_w1-3Bdi4/s1600/IMG_5166e.tenax.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KcCvLh3uDC3iVkFQKfiARiCgYWy2HA6h88CGKLK0q5VyhuLKX3itR2T2lpTtueEBb7WPU0zHkwmimuTx61bAXVlckwsN0Jaboix7NG7J6ehivvRZr3yqjdvoXd2qELGRULN_w1-3Bdi4/s320/IMG_5166e.tenax.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">Drone
fly (</span><i>Eristalis tenax</i><span style="font-style: normal;">)</span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">One
of many introduced, widespread species</span></div>
<div lang="es-ES" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-style: normal;">©
Beatriz Moisset</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://pollinatingbee.blogspot.com/2010/02/list-of-articles.html">List of articles</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://polinizador.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/an-easy-guide-to-the-most-frequent-flower-visitors/">Beginners
Guide to Pollinators and Other Flower Visitors</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="unicode"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset. 2016</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-91942664715480187502016-04-24T14:31:00.000-07:002017-09-03T12:19:49.935-07:00The flower reinvented<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWrbAePeFxAbcbG4dVXDyBQRUu4VAScBSoxP_MASeWHHpTlcFRVJnMmDxXZXQjbZhIxhJB3uHGHAJOfG7Matw8Wl1MvbFyEGuEhXOa-eY2h2daTKsYBCeH1R8TGWxK2BxKqyU_9xIvUtU/s1600/P2048560.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjWrbAePeFxAbcbG4dVXDyBQRUu4VAScBSoxP_MASeWHHpTlcFRVJnMmDxXZXQjbZhIxhJB3uHGHAJOfG7Matw8Wl1MvbFyEGuEhXOa-eY2h2daTKsYBCeH1R8TGWxK2BxKqyU_9xIvUtU/s320/P2048560.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dichromena latifolia</i> or <i>Rhynchospora latifolia</i>, identified by Andrew Greller.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Sedges and grasses are wind pollinated and have no showy flowers. It is interesting that Narrow-Leaf White-topped Sedge evolved to attract pollinators and created a sort of flower for this purpose. The apparent petals are not the same as those of a real flower but modified leaves called bracts.<br />
<br />
See: <a href="http://www.actforlibraries.org/plant-profiles-white-top-sedge/" target="_blank">Plant Profiles. White Top Sedge</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://pollinatingbee.blogspot.com/2010/02/list-of-articles.html">List of articles</a><br />
<a href="http://polinizador.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/an-easy-guide-to-the-most-frequent-flower-visitors/">Beginners
Guide to Pollinators and Other Flower Visitors</a><br />
<br />
<span class="unicode"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset. 2016</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-44083198272991844472016-02-07T16:23:00.000-08:002017-09-03T12:20:41.532-07:00Native species<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 2.6rem; padding: 0px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEzdipGwhUXJOjerA2I95NgS0FEjJeJW7J2HevVtqkXWfzyBPsKO5fZBSlpuA3yxBQhXUKB_JgO_D7JLBfNWlbKrluyptsw2ufjcfz0zjLxJ3jz_YKs__uw5PdONGcuoRWM2vaD23P_MW/s1600/IMG_0023.6.30.06.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEzdipGwhUXJOjerA2I95NgS0FEjJeJW7J2HevVtqkXWfzyBPsKO5fZBSlpuA3yxBQhXUKB_JgO_D7JLBfNWlbKrluyptsw2ufjcfz0zjLxJ3jz_YKs__uw5PdONGcuoRWM2vaD23P_MW/s400/IMG_0023.6.30.06.w.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.75px;">Common milkweed, </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.75px;">Asclepias syriaca</i><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 22.75px;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(© B. Moisset)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Definitions of native plants abound. None is entirely satisfactory in all circumstances but each may serve a specific function. Some strive for scientific accuracy; others serve practical purposes. Moreover, in some instances the nativity of a plant may not matter to the native-plant gardener. None of us is about to give up growing tomatoes regardless of their non-native status.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.denix.osd.mil/nr/legislationandpolicy/mousandmoas/guidance/memorandum-of-understanding-federal-native-plant-conservation-committee/" target="_blank">Federal Native Plant Conservation Committee</a> proposes the following definition: “A native plant species is one that occurs naturally in a particular habitat, ecosystem, or region of the United States and its Territories or Possessions, without direct or indirect human actions.” Such definition may be useful for policy making.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.denix.osd.mil/nr/upload/MOU-DoD-Federal-Native-Plant-Conservation.pdf" target="_blank">Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center</a> of the University of Texas at Austin provides a sampling of definitions. Here are two:<br />
<br />
“Native plants should be defined as those that have evolved and adapted to a specific location and have remained genetically unaltered by humans” (Wasowski. The American Gardener, 1998).<br />
<br />
“All indigenous, terrestrial, and aquatic plant species that evolved naturally in an ecosystem” (US Forest Service).<br />
<br />
Some may prefer other definitions from that list. In my opinion, the best ones are those that recognize the significance of co-evolution, habitats and ecosystems.<br />
<br />
In North America, 1492 is commonly used as the cut-off date. It signals the arrival of Europeans on this continent and also the subsequent era of exploration of the entire planet. We may regard it as an arbitrary date; but it is one with practical usefulness as well as with historical significance. The numbers of introductions of non-native species and the distances to which they are transported started growing dramatically in 1492 and continue to grow at accelerated rates.<br />
<br />
Humans have been introducing species to other lands from the beginning of agriculture (and unintentionally even earlier). Polynesians took pigs to Hawaii more than a thousand years ago. In recent times, Europeans introduced a new breed on the island. Is one breed more native than the other? Does it matter? We need to remember that the recently introduced breed is larger in size, more invasive, and more destructive of habitats. Habitat restoration may justify eradication of the European introduction. But removing the earlier breed, which is embedded in Hawaiian tradition and culture, would not be wise. This thorny issue will have to be decided by Hawaiians. I don’t envy them the task or the heated conflicts that this issue creates.<br />
<br />
The Three Sisters of Native American agriculture –corn, squash and beans– are not truly native to North America. They were first cultivated in a region of Mexico and Central America several thousand years ago and carried farther north and east as well as into South America in prehistoric times. It is tempting to regard these crops as native plants, but they are not really so. Once again, the question is: Does it matter? Would those devoted to conservation and restoration want to eliminate these non-invasive, economically significant, long-established crops? Of course, not! This is not the purpose of restoration.<br />
<br />
Further back, all species of organisms have been on the move at a certain point. To grow and multiply is a mandate as old as life itself. Those that successfully multiply need to expand their territories and invade new areas. The present geographic distribution of any given species tells us only a small part of the story. To understand the concept of native organisms, we need some knowledge of the origin, evolution, and dispersal of species and taxonomic groups.<br />
<br />
We can use as an example that quintessential native plant, the common milkweed (<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Asclepias syriaca</i>) and its relatives, the other milkweed members of the genus <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Asclepias</i>.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 2.6rem; padding: 0px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoq4E-enjSPxNL3LgaY0MOAPp9S6rvLZscTz3uKXrF6mi7fbJaznBUntMxFU5kXooyU08oNGrHCLYf7ORVc6hRD0lpeaJqqIm0ug7e2EXOR8ANZYkJHGG5z3H5jUrhyphenhyphenCZSyQuI7Hmp_VEn/s1600/IMG_0401.7.2.06.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoq4E-enjSPxNL3LgaY0MOAPp9S6rvLZscTz3uKXrF6mi7fbJaznBUntMxFU5kXooyU08oNGrHCLYf7ORVc6hRD0lpeaJqqIm0ug7e2EXOR8ANZYkJHGG5z3H5jUrhyphenhyphenCZSyQuI7Hmp_VEn/s320/IMG_0401.7.2.06.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.75px;">Common milkweed flower and one of its visitors, a bumble bee </span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 22.75px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(© B. Moisset)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The family of milkweeds originated in Africa many millions of years ago. Its members have been spreading out ever since. They occupied Asia, evolving into a number of new species along the way. They crossed the Bering Strait around 30 million years ago and, once again, they diversified into a number of related species. Nowadays, there are more than a hundred species of the genus<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Asclepias</i> in North America. Some crossed the Isthmus of Panama and invaded South America, where they evolved into a handful of species. I find it very interesting that many millions of years later a mammalian species would originate in Africa and follow a similar itinerary all the way to the tip of Patagonia in South America. I am talking about us, <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Homo sapiens</i>.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 2.6rem; padding: 0px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7yxdAvWDUr8DhgvWjIsT1ENSrK1UCAV-eqfvsd0m0QvDPnwxy8MehvgK2KFpIWdjV1kdDAbHi0IOztXHGKtXDk7FkpY4-QeZvQMRkmSHBiMZ3gat2f_j7WZHYcaWCdoHys4CXADAtx6v/s1600/Asclepias+syriaca.USDA.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7yxdAvWDUr8DhgvWjIsT1ENSrK1UCAV-eqfvsd0m0QvDPnwxy8MehvgK2KFpIWdjV1kdDAbHi0IOztXHGKtXDk7FkpY4-QeZvQMRkmSHBiMZ3gat2f_j7WZHYcaWCdoHys4CXADAtx6v/s320/Asclepias+syriaca.USDA.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.75px;">Geographic distribution of </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.75px;">Asclepias syriaca</i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.75px;">. </span><a href="http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ASSY" target="_blank">USDA map</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFK8_9uuP1me8wep7jnCDBWk36MluIl2DSisHhHi1R58xWqC4F-yb9ZjhfSpUO57HPc15hBjce10o0yv15D4sVol0mtzVkEr9fA_DJ0BeCVYZxGoVkN5pKK5EbFAqFmz57M4V6-p6AyyF/s1600/IMG_0940.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFK8_9uuP1me8wep7jnCDBWk36MluIl2DSisHhHi1R58xWqC4F-yb9ZjhfSpUO57HPc15hBjce10o0yv15D4sVol0mtzVkEr9fA_DJ0BeCVYZxGoVkN5pKK5EbFAqFmz57M4V6-p6AyyF/s320/IMG_0940.PNG" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.75px;">USDA maps illustrating the geographic distribution of species of</span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.75px;">Asclepias</i><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.75px;">. </span>See the <a href="http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=ASCLE" target="_blank">complete page</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The USDA maps show the distribution of the common milkweed, <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Asclepias syriaca</i>, and of other members of the genus. The common milkweed is found in all the Eastern United States and Canada and also in parts of the West. Other milkweeds occupy more limited territories, some overlapping each other. We can be certain that their geographic ranges have not remained constant in the thousands of years of their existences. They responded to climatic changes that caused glaciers to expand and retreat by migrating north or south and by contracting and expanding their territories accordingly. Still, we regard them as native to the areas where they are naturally present.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZtrE5MRbq0svMrs4IN1EOKnYChf9t_53EnPoEsNh80tNd1DcNFVGiRlsBn90s5kjHQTB835SNp8y-ri1LGu_RHBiiH6xDqmGOJrMe62FEvIGbyE8I4wGeCrFTausQwz8ogRgnY5x4BpJ/s1600/IMG_0507.7.2.06.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSZtrE5MRbq0svMrs4IN1EOKnYChf9t_53EnPoEsNh80tNd1DcNFVGiRlsBn90s5kjHQTB835SNp8y-ri1LGu_RHBiiH6xDqmGOJrMe62FEvIGbyE8I4wGeCrFTausQwz8ogRgnY5x4BpJ/s320/IMG_0507.7.2.06.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.75px;">Adult monarch on common milkweed </span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 22.75px;">(© B. Moisset)</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 22.75px;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 22.75px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; line-height: 26px;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Milkweeds didn’t come alone. They are part of ecological communities that include other species, some tightly, other loosely, linked. Milkweed butterflies, having tied their destinies to those of milkweeds, followed their host plants. The genus</span></span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;">Danaus</i><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;"> originated in Africa and spread out along with milkweeds covering similar territories. These were the ancestors of the monarch butterfly (</span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;">Danaus plexippus</i><span style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;">) and its relatives.</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 22.75px;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvclfMWS4Ldpo6ou5V-Ze1J0_ueL8YOF8OlxpNr6u4JQJGQ8FhXjPo3NGXW6m0bVs5prNqpbmFbEwfFnCIuP2p_GomW93hdA4-jtTgJZMWMjnNEbEvVlAFCaYnlnHX504PStp4aoIFl0o/s1600/IMG_7404.7.07.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvclfMWS4Ldpo6ou5V-Ze1J0_ueL8YOF8OlxpNr6u4JQJGQ8FhXjPo3NGXW6m0bVs5prNqpbmFbEwfFnCIuP2p_GomW93hdA4-jtTgJZMWMjnNEbEvVlAFCaYnlnHX504PStp4aoIFl0o/s320/IMG_7404.7.07.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.75px;">Longhorn milkweed beetles</span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 22.75px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> (© B. Moisset)</span></span></td></tr>
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In fact, the southern monarch (<i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Danaus erippus</i>), a resident of southern South America, is so similar to the North American monarch that both were considered members of the same species until recently. Curiously, this southern monarch, like its northern sister, is migratory. Even more curiously, it migrates south to a colder climate, when winter comes. This is the kind of natural history mystery that keeps me awake at night. I hope that somebody uncovers the secrets of the southern monarch and lets me know.Monarch butterflies are not the only insects that take advantage of milkweeds. A whole menagerie has evolved to feed on these plants. There are milkweed longhorn beetles, large and small milkweed bugs, milkweed weevils, and milkweed tussock moths, just to name the most familiar ones. All of them are adapted to the strong milkweed toxins. These poisons remain in their tissues and give them some protection against predators, which find them inedible.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6v7Ujim1I7esPeKZDGzmdfccI2ac98IJBzzRqHpyJtUC5d3CUnE_UboPKcAsy9k4D0lWmV08yiPUIwrsJwHzSVTxtD7bquUX_3GDVpo4bQlRwSXGSvveNJtPZread0T-Tf4xMffHHtQt2/s1600/IMG_0158.6.30.06.Coleomeg.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6v7Ujim1I7esPeKZDGzmdfccI2ac98IJBzzRqHpyJtUC5d3CUnE_UboPKcAsy9k4D0lWmV08yiPUIwrsJwHzSVTxtD7bquUX_3GDVpo4bQlRwSXGSvveNJtPZread0T-Tf4xMffHHtQt2/s320/IMG_0158.6.30.06.Coleomeg.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.75px;">Lady beetle larva, <i>Coleomegilla</i> </span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 22.75px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(© B. Moisset)</span></span></td></tr>
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However, despite the protection that the milkweed toxins provide to its feeders, some predators and parasites are adapted to this inconvenience. Several species of birds and mice feed on monarchs, both in this country and in Mexico, where they spend the winter. A number of predatory and parasitic insects also depend on monarch butterflies for nourishment. Thus the milkweeds and their dependents and the other components of the food chain are all linked together. They have been co-evolving for millions of years and are functional parts of their ecosystems.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3uVU8Q9L4CHLqmPyw0bbEUnmJsjnp71B5ml3smyLLbSUKAroF8dpA5SgBD_pj96UK0L4sQB13gat822PRrTD29R7HHcXz97s2-FOCujx_R_cEZ-e3exBj7H3MBNyy2nA95SSCKjO07mj/s1600/P6205084.04w.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3uVU8Q9L4CHLqmPyw0bbEUnmJsjnp71B5ml3smyLLbSUKAroF8dpA5SgBD_pj96UK0L4sQB13gat822PRrTD29R7HHcXz97s2-FOCujx_R_cEZ-e3exBj7H3MBNyy2nA95SSCKjO07mj/s320/P6205084.04w.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silver-spotted skipper<span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.75px;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 22.75px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(© B. Moisset)</span></span></td></tr>
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These relationships matter when we talk about native plants. A non-native organism, one newly arrived into an ecosystem, lacks this kind of co-evolved interactions with the other members of the community. It is not a functional component of the ecosystem. Eventually, new interactions will develop given enough time. This may take tens of thousands or millions of years. This is why the best definitions of native plants involve the words “co-evolution,” “habitat,” “community,” or “ecosystem.”<br />
<br />
In some instances, it is hard to tell what is native. In certain cases, it may not be important or practical to consider the nativity of a plant, as in the example of the crops grown by Native Americans. That which really matters is the <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20160401001819/http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/why-native-plants-matter/" target="_blank">long established and complex relationships</a> present in ecosystems. A native plant is one that is <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20151224162244/http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/defining-native-and-invasive-2/" target="_blank">ecologically linked to other components</a> of the ecosystem where it is found.<br />
<br />
Some important concepts lack a perfect definition. We need to name them, nonetheless. Biologists would be lost if they couldn’t use the concept of “species” just because no definition fits all the circumstances. This word is not only important but absolutely necessary. One may need to use different definitions of “species” depending on the discipline; but that is no reason to give up the word. The concept of “native” organisms is equally necessary. It is here to stay, regardless of the difficulties that may arise at times.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZsbYQmjS5GmHYYwMytAi-4ZjMtuFrTYermZIkhZ3q2RCjZy2UqhiBdktpz9z0fAkurbIirjcQFK9Qlx8R8PI2lOI_sAkqDdSXC6jyaE6-029JhanB6viTX9ZBs0-giNwRBY85iTUg0Mv/s1600/IMG_6678.6.10.07.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZsbYQmjS5GmHYYwMytAi-4ZjMtuFrTYermZIkhZ3q2RCjZy2UqhiBdktpz9z0fAkurbIirjcQFK9Qlx8R8PI2lOI_sAkqDdSXC6jyaE6-029JhanB6viTX9ZBs0-giNwRBY85iTUg0Mv/s320/IMG_6678.6.10.07.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.75px;">Robins are among the birds that sometimes eat monarchs </span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 22.75px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(© B. Moisset)</span></span></td></tr>
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Originally published by <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20140715140509/http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/what-is-native-what-is-not-when-does-it-matter/" target="_blank">Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens</a><br />
<br />
© 2012, <a href="http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5bb1f9; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;">Beatriz Moisset</a>. All rights reserved. This article is the property of <a href="http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/what-is-native-what-is-not-when-does-it-matter/" target="_blank">Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://pollinatingbee.blogspot.com/2010/02/list-of-articles.html">List of articles</a><br />
<a href="http://polinizador.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/an-easy-guide-to-the-most-frequent-flower-visitors/">Beginners
Guide to Pollinators and Other Flower Visitors</a><br />
</div>
Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-87143647408377334912016-02-05T09:04:00.000-08:002016-02-05T09:04:08.976-08:00How much is a bat worth?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkddRirG_Xb-RNwn6fFRPf2aXvGWtMO6z3OX_AP-yFX4aJedjSxi0_Wj6Bt2Ber1v0KR0Gpa7KRJhWQ5JZS20y7-MCt_l92Yll-dGaNUoCgFw54UylvV6XXq8L7x-2kHF3qRikL70MJq_E/s1600/Big-eared-townsend-fledermaus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkddRirG_Xb-RNwn6fFRPf2aXvGWtMO6z3OX_AP-yFX4aJedjSxi0_Wj6Bt2Ber1v0KR0Gpa7KRJhWQ5JZS20y7-MCt_l92Yll-dGaNUoCgFw54UylvV6XXq8L7x-2kHF3qRikL70MJq_E/s320/Big-eared-townsend-fledermaus.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Eared Townsend Fleddermouse.<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">PD-USGov,
exact author unknown</span></span></td></tr>
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<h3 class="western">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">Who
would think of putting a dollar value on a bat? Well, it turns out
that some researchers have done just that. I am not talking about a
baseball bat but about that creature of the night so loathed by some.
We tend to associate bats with witches and demons rather than with
crops.</span></h3>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Is
there a reason for putting an economic value on a bat? The answer is:
Yes. Bats feed on flying insects at night. Many of those insects are
pests that damage our valuable crops. So it turns out that bats are
valuable to farmers.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">A
group of scientists have been trying to estimate the numbers of
insects bats eat and the possible impact on agriculture and forestry
if bats stopped supplying this pest control. They published their
conclusions in the scientific journal, Science. Through a number of
complex calculations of pesticide application and crop losses they
came up with a range between $3.7 billion and $53 billion a year in
the United States alone. It is not possible to be more precise when
considering so many variables. Anyway the numbers are impressive.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">It
is worth mentioning that these maligned creatures have other
functions in addition to the pest control discussed in this study.
They are pollinators of many night blooming flowers. Cacti, in
particular, are dependent on bats for pollination. Many cacti of the
West synchronize their blooming time with the migration of some
species of bats. Try to imagine what the West would be like without
cacti.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBbqzU10kHu7k5AKMefRTg00W_Lb_wBKFwNL4pPbNTm6C1-Dr-6mgWlJwY7kFPRCPWFMIGUQjmVRvF02Bzy2e1HxaFOupbJVoe2C_1XptdVi665x-7KTzYIg9FGeARIvXXNnmSagMY1rz/s1600/7212709162_0dc70ebe62_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVBbqzU10kHu7k5AKMefRTg00W_Lb_wBKFwNL4pPbNTm6C1-Dr-6mgWlJwY7kFPRCPWFMIGUQjmVRvF02Bzy2e1HxaFOupbJVoe2C_1XptdVi665x-7KTzYIg9FGeARIvXXNnmSagMY1rz/s320/7212709162_0dc70ebe62_z.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bat pollinating Agave desmettiana.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> <span style="font-family: arial, helvetica; text-align: start;">© </span>Carlos Machado</span></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Another service, especially in the tropics is seed dispersal. Bats eat the fruits of many trees, such as fig trees and pass the seeds far from the mother trees. It would be impossible to put a monetary value on this function, but it is becoming apparent that bats are essential to reforestation in tropical regions.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Unfortunately,
in recent times, bats are encountering serious problems. There is one
disease in particular that is decimating the populations of bats in
the United States. This fungal disease, called "white nose
syndrome", weakens and kills large number of bats, especially
during the winter. It is for this reason that the researchers decided
to investigate how the loss of bats would affect agriculture. Even
lacking more accurate numbers the results are alarming; the losses to
crops and forestry could be very serious.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">It
is only recently that a cure for white nose syndrome has been found.
A bacteria attacks the fungus that causes this illness. Infecting
bats with this bacteria cures them from the illness. Steps are taken
to restore the health of bat populations. It is still a long road to
complete success and reports of the illness spreading to other caves
and to other regions continue. Cautious optimism is in order.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;">The
web of life is intricate and often we don’t know enough about all
the threads that make this tapestry. This is another example of a
creature whose value we fail to recognize. It took a threat to the
welfare of bats, such as the white nose syndrome for the world to
stand up and take notice. We are only now beginning to appreciate the
value of the free services provided by these creatures: pollination,
seed dispersal and pest control. We have to look at bats with renewed
respect. Let us develop a kinder attitude towards our friends, the
bats.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWGnrL0774QbkwKeRHts_j2JqzVRcrwnm46Xm_otfJ58TY9oUVwEAMzWue1T_BsUv1g98gAxhUGzY1krWi2dtc60NR1Hx9RFE5YK9AbKW45MuDxkXvJ5sIonOTFk8-CSLiov8US8QLZ_t/s1600/Bat_house.wiki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtWGnrL0774QbkwKeRHts_j2JqzVRcrwnm46Xm_otfJ58TY9oUVwEAMzWue1T_BsUv1g98gAxhUGzY1krWi2dtc60NR1Hx9RFE5YK9AbKW45MuDxkXvJ5sIonOTFk8-CSLiov8US8QLZ_t/s320/Bat_house.wiki.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bat house</span> <span style="font-family: arial, helvetica; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© Robert Lawton</span></span></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="https://batconservation.org/learn/about-bats/" target="_blank">Bat conservation</a></span></span></span><br />
<a href="http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/tennessee/success-in-treating-white-nose-syndrome.xml" style="font-family: arial, tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" target="_blank">White nose syndrome cure</a><br />
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://news.mongabay.com/2015/07/seed-dispersal-by-fruit-eating-bats-essential-to-tropical-reforestation/" target="_blank">Seed dispersal by bats</a></span></span>Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-2806053028004018082015-06-28T06:22:00.000-07:002017-09-03T12:21:41.524-07:00What is native? What is not? When does it matter?<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 2.6rem; padding: 0px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEzdipGwhUXJOjerA2I95NgS0FEjJeJW7J2HevVtqkXWfzyBPsKO5fZBSlpuA3yxBQhXUKB_JgO_D7JLBfNWlbKrluyptsw2ufjcfz0zjLxJ3jz_YKs__uw5PdONGcuoRWM2vaD23P_MW/s1600/IMG_0023.6.30.06.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieEzdipGwhUXJOjerA2I95NgS0FEjJeJW7J2HevVtqkXWfzyBPsKO5fZBSlpuA3yxBQhXUKB_JgO_D7JLBfNWlbKrluyptsw2ufjcfz0zjLxJ3jz_YKs__uw5PdONGcuoRWM2vaD23P_MW/s400/IMG_0023.6.30.06.w.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.75px;">Common milkweed, </span><i style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.75px;">Asclepias syriaca</i><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 22.75px;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(© B. Moisset)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 2.6rem; padding: 0px;">
Definitions of <a href="http://www.ecosystemgardening.com/whats-native.html">native plants </a>abound.
None is entirely satisfactory in all circumstances but each may serve a
specific function. Some strive for scientific accuracy; others serve
practical purposes. Moreover, in some instances the nativity of a plant
may not matter to the native-plant gardener. None of us is about to give
up growing tomatoes regardless of their non-native status.<br />
<br />
Some important concepts lack a perfect definition. We need to name them, nonetheless. Biologists would be lost if they couldn’t use the concept of “species” just because no definition fits all the circumstances. This word is not only important but absolutely necessary. One may need to use different definitions of “species” depending on the discipline; but that is no reason to give up the word. The concept of “native” organisms is equally necessary. It is here to stay, regardless of the difficulties that may arise at times.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Read the whole article in <b> <a href="http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/what-is-native-what-is-not-when-does-it-matter/" target="_blank">Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens.</a></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">or <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20151020062016/http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/what-is-native-what-is-not-when-does-it-matter/" target="_blank">Archive Native Plants and wildlife Gardens</a></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px; margin-bottom: 2.6rem; padding: 0px;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr align="left"><td></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
© 2012, <a href="http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/" style="-webkit-transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out; box-sizing: border-box; color: #5bb1f9; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out;">Beatriz Moisset</a>. All rights reserved. This article is the property of <a href="http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/what-is-native-what-is-not-when-does-it-matter/" target="_blank">Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://pollinatingbee.blogspot.com/2010/02/list-of-articles.html">List of articles</a><br />
<a href="http://polinizador.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/an-easy-guide-to-the-most-frequent-flower-visitors/">Beginners
Guide to Pollinators and Other Flower Visitors</a><br />
</div>
Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-67321330490333114542015-06-25T11:02:00.000-07:002017-09-03T12:22:26.937-07:00Thrifty flowers<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">
Pollen is a valuable commodity. The
less pollen needed, the more energy is left for other functions.
Flowers resort to several strategies to economize on pollen. Some use
a method called explosive pollination, others resort to buzz
pollination. Both methods are well illustrated by official state
flowers.<br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvZvFjZNSEbXG0mNLAVWVyE0SxujHk-ZaCVG9JJMZ3VVHR_yah4tVcMkQiAihlfHbPtXqQvVV_tWkmWd0nkzyNq-4rfKmrDKFtrEDyFRs6M02cvcSWWs98E-JtRJfN4ejzobrKpJwyf1V/s1600/3618mtlaurelw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnvZvFjZNSEbXG0mNLAVWVyE0SxujHk-ZaCVG9JJMZ3VVHR_yah4tVcMkQiAihlfHbPtXqQvVV_tWkmWd0nkzyNq-4rfKmrDKFtrEDyFRs6M02cvcSWWs98E-JtRJfN4ejzobrKpJwyf1V/s320/3618mtlaurelw.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain laurel in bloom. <span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h3>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Explosive
Pollination of Mountain Laurels</b></span></h3>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Mountain <span style="color: black;">laurel
(</span><span style="color: black;"><i>Kalmia latifolia</i></span><span style="color: black;">),
Pennsylvania’s and Connecticut's state flower, has a singular way
to ensure that its insect visitors carry pollen to other flowers of
its species.</span> The unopened blossoms present little knobs which
give them a funny look. Their function becomes apparent when the
flower opens. They are pockets that hold the anthers trapped. Anthers
are <span style="color: black;">the part of the flower that produces male
cells, pollen</span>.<br />
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjto5MbQTJ0_w_nax_A-KX_RMEM7-QR24ad2dLrc70velliyqfgPDUcHfczTvsxijeJ9MwZ_Xqh8PqBV4RzQIMfQjTo9GzKkNOjSo3R7tp-_rucJYJP6Kag5XGezLvEocuZ1niwnIkJEYuz/s1600/5608mt_laurelcw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjto5MbQTJ0_w_nax_A-KX_RMEM7-QR24ad2dLrc70velliyqfgPDUcHfczTvsxijeJ9MwZ_Xqh8PqBV4RzQIMfQjTo9GzKkNOjSo3R7tp-_rucJYJP6Kag5XGezLvEocuZ1niwnIkJEYuz/s320/5608mt_laurelcw.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain laurel flower before an insect's visit. <span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.1333332061768px;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggL7p1pkaIBwMT7mlCmtAKTT72dSJi33Iiae6C8PY1fpG1q20Z35tgWLs-0MpWPRJxDbSEsqawXvqE2P6pQqUX70-8oT7m8gr-B_nn5KnLNT1QZYNchbzvb3qIRQO7-2_auplAY0z98A4O/s1600/5608mt_laurelc2w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggL7p1pkaIBwMT7mlCmtAKTT72dSJi33Iiae6C8PY1fpG1q20Z35tgWLs-0MpWPRJxDbSEsqawXvqE2P6pQqUX70-8oT7m8gr-B_nn5KnLNT1QZYNchbzvb3qIRQO7-2_auplAY0z98A4O/s320/5608mt_laurelc2w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower tripped by an insect. <span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
In most flowers the anthers are free
and exposed to spread their pollen at the slightest touch of a flower
visitor. The mountain laurel has a different strategy. The pollen is
well protected against rain and wind; but, when a pollinator lands on
the flower searching for nectar, the weight acts as a trigger,
causing the taut stem of the anther to spring. The anther hits the
pollinator gently on the back and gives it a dusting of pollen.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
This method allows mountain laurel
flowers to produce only a moderate amount of pollen because most of
it ends up where it is intended, on the body of a pollinator, rather
than being wasted in other ways.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Connecticut:
Mountain laurel</b></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Pennsylvania:
Mountain laurel</b></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h3>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Explosive
Pollination of Pea-like Flowers</b></span></span></h3>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7jZkzwcK1l6PR3DHr64gcas6UzHEFmckWmvLnHno43qu83ahfzHRoSEjXfINfTtK2MpTm2gdqdbXSJG9BifeE9YvFNT3h20hiZUwjNukWWOcf_Zxbil2E8Lbk-M0H2ky-n6jiU1buyHV/s1600/Texas_Bluebonnet_%25282%2529_%2528129892355%2529+Jacopo+Werther.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7jZkzwcK1l6PR3DHr64gcas6UzHEFmckWmvLnHno43qu83ahfzHRoSEjXfINfTtK2MpTm2gdqdbXSJG9BifeE9YvFNT3h20hiZUwjNukWWOcf_Zxbil2E8Lbk-M0H2ky-n6jiU1buyHV/s320/Texas_Bluebonnet_%25282%2529_%2528129892355%2529+Jacopo+Werther.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Texas Bluebonnet. Wikicommons <span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Jacopo Werther</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black;">Other
flowers encase both the pollen-producing parts and the female parts,
or stigma, into a sheath. Some members of the pea family, Fabaceae,
have flowers that resemble a butterfly, this is why this subfamily is
called Papilionoideae, </span><span style="color: black;"><i>papilio</i></span><span style="color: black;">
meaning butterfly. The top petal is large and shaped as the sail of a
ship and is called the banner. Two side petals are called wings, and
the bottom two petals are merged into one forming a sheath that
encloses both the anthers and the stigma. This structure looks like
the keel of a boat and it is so called.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yvfsCEfOYNK1pV9-3hGWd3vVK43YBhp45JOGg6Gw_mZsSvvY_wVEUyivBS2WZ5cjhU5TwW-nestgUw_H3qCT4uM5D6vPAFAjQO-4SfM3G1itsUIJdCst9KCj_Z_v1yp51gpHVKT7GDPf/s1600/Wisteria_sinensis_nobackground_labels.wiki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-yvfsCEfOYNK1pV9-3hGWd3vVK43YBhp45JOGg6Gw_mZsSvvY_wVEUyivBS2WZ5cjhU5TwW-nestgUw_H3qCT4uM5D6vPAFAjQO-4SfM3G1itsUIJdCst9KCj_Z_v1yp51gpHVKT7GDPf/s320/Wisteria_sinensis_nobackground_labels.wiki.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Structure of a papilionoid flower. Wikicommons. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">©</span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> </span><span style="color: #252525;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">David
Richfield</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">When a
pollinator lands on a blossom, its weight triggers a mechanism
causing the keel to spread open and the anthers and stigma jump up
out of the enclosure. This is called tripping. The insect has to be
heavy enough to cause such reaction. Some bumble bees are pros at
this task; honey bees, on the other hand, dislike being pounced upon.
After a few times, they learn to sneak around and steal the nectar
through a small opening at the base of the keel. Only novices perform
pollination. Once they learn this trick no more pollen is transferred
to the stigmas. Nevertheless managed honey bees are widely used to
pollinate alfalfa and clover. Bee hives provide a large labor force
that makes up for this deficiency. Some bumble bees, especially the
short-tongued species, are also inclined to a little larceny.
However, they are generally considered highly competent pollinators
of alfalfa and clover. </span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZQipoWTOeN2T-nM_DylXrQEbfxopPa6QrzMnHf1n-HQSOiMJg5AhBKihYt1v_xjyHrlbmW2asMVyH0EzkJ8XazsDp6VIe_EUY3iu-QG4XFxjGqTWd7cO1N3P5KKLg3Jr1GpJkQkJuvC8/s1600/IMG_3302.clover.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZQipoWTOeN2T-nM_DylXrQEbfxopPa6QrzMnHf1n-HQSOiMJg5AhBKihYt1v_xjyHrlbmW2asMVyH0EzkJ8XazsDp6VIe_EUY3iu-QG4XFxjGqTWd7cO1N3P5KKLg3Jr1GpJkQkJuvC8/s320/IMG_3302.clover.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clover, another papilionoid flower. <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black;">Texas’
bluebonnet (</span><i>Lupinus</i><span style="color: black;">) and
Vermont’s red clover (</span><i>Trifolium pratense</i>)<span style="color: black;">
need to be tripped. Six species of lupines, all of them called
bluebonnets because of their appearance, live in Texas. All six of
them are considered the state flower. The red clover, Vermont’s
state flower, on the other hand, is not a native plant. It is an
important crop used to feed livestock.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Texas:
Bluebonnet</b></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Vermont:
Red Clover</b></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<h3>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Buzz
Pollination or the Salt Shaker Technique</b></span></span></h3>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Other flowers
make the pollinators work for pollen in a different way.
Interestingly enough, honey bees never learned how to do the job I
will describe, but native bumble bees and numerous species of bees
are real pros.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76eBQvIB1IPNI3eOwMDC0tZajlVuYp3f89e5kDDuWl8RzReBk9KiRltZ7nC_FoiKIPxl3QVJnTNq5RVW8BFNlGqPwUOG0A9lZfW41zbdHWWQ0NYXGe8mpnsDRAymW2UqyNtX6z1PxmaAn/s1600/andrena+cornelli.IMG_5605.5.26.10.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76eBQvIB1IPNI3eOwMDC0tZajlVuYp3f89e5kDDuWl8RzReBk9KiRltZ7nC_FoiKIPxl3QVJnTNq5RVW8BFNlGqPwUOG0A9lZfW41zbdHWWQ0NYXGe8mpnsDRAymW2UqyNtX6z1PxmaAn/s320/andrena+cornelli.IMG_5605.5.26.10.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Azalea Andrena bee pollinating azalea. Observe the pores at the tips of the anthers. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In most flowers
the pollen is made available to pollinators as soon as it is ripe.
The anther splits open. We all have seen the golden dust many flowers
have. If we touch it, it sticks to our fingers. Rhododendrons and
azaleas do something else. They keep the pollen enclosed inside the
anther. It can only come out through a small opening at the tip.
Several other native flowers, like tomato and blueberry have a
similar characteristic.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">In order to
extract it, the bee has to cling to the anther and give it a good
shake. It accomplishes this by vibrating its flight muscles while
keeping the wings still; it is like running the car engine in
neutral. Pollen comes in clouds and clings to the body of the
pollinator. Later, the bee proceeds to package its loot in the little
baskets of the hind legs.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVy7cCC-OIV4AarztTzo8YClqkI05KZ0xpz7j5fIrRUQ7Oq4Ig9ILER_4-usu4C1JVe_CNXt2XjLaVc_QWvBIqPIEqVBaVK_tbpSzDU5-3aGMKPd5a4a0F-vxql7ys9xAUEOMD71PqEvSa/s1600/MVI_1605.6.26.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVy7cCC-OIV4AarztTzo8YClqkI05KZ0xpz7j5fIrRUQ7Oq4Ig9ILER_4-usu4C1JVe_CNXt2XjLaVc_QWvBIqPIEqVBaVK_tbpSzDU5-3aGMKPd5a4a0F-vxql7ys9xAUEOMD71PqEvSa/s320/MVI_1605.6.26.11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buzz pollination of azalea. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdTsPGOK1zU" target="_blank">Video</a>. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Two states have
official flowers that exemplify this method of pollination,
Washington has chosen the Coast Rhododendron (</span><span style="color: black;"><i>Rhododendron
macrophyllum</i></span><span style="color: black;">) and West Virginia has
another species of Rhododendron (</span><span style="color: black;"><i>Rhododendron
maximum</i></span><span style="color: black;">). Georgia’s official
wildflower, azalea (</span><span style="color: black;"><i>Rhododendron
prunifolium</i></span><span style="color: black;">), follows the same
system of pollination; its official flower is the rose; but,
fortunately, they decided to honor a native plant in addition to a
non-native flower.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Georgia
(official wildflower): Azalea</b></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Washington:
Coast Rhododendron</b></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>West
Virginia: Rhododendron</b></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;">Other
plants select their pollinator clientele through other methods. Some
hide the nectar rather than the pollen. A different set of skills are
needed to deal with these flowers as we'll see in the next post.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>References</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://pollinators.blogspot.com/2011/07/mountain-laurels-instead-of-rose-bushes.html" target="_blank">Pollination of mountain laurel</a></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://tolweb.org/Papilionoideae/60240" target="_blank">Image illustrating the parts of a Papilionoid flower</a></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=NdLx93G2SX4C&pg=PA70&lpg=PA70&dq=red+clover+tripping+pollination&source=bl&ots=mAPr0Vom-m&sig=oeE7FcvAtCTQiEb68rcrmEp_PEs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=q9_GVJmDBYO9ggT2gYEo&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=red%20clover%20tripping%20pollination&f=false" target="_blank">Red clover pollination (also alfalfa)</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.faculty.ucr.edu/~legneref/pollination/pollinat3.htm" target="_blank">Legume pollination</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.greatstems.com/2013/04/studying-the-bluebonnet.html" target="_blank">Bluebonnet pollination</a></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://pollinatingbee.blogspot.com/2010/02/list-of-articles.html">List of articles</a><br />
<a href="http://polinizador.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/an-easy-guide-to-the-most-frequent-flower-visitors/">Beginners
Guide to Pollinators and Other Flower Visitors</a><br />
<br />
<span class="unicode"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset. 2015</span></span><br />
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-1508807970533346912015-06-18T05:29:00.001-07:002015-06-18T05:29:12.132-07:00Beginners Guide to Pollinators<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJGcBBcgouTHflXuNEzPEFzRP6N3PHJDx4mi7KBFEUVi9c0BKajNL1oHqAAL9ph1WhXBoe48fnxqSlJeGk2LQSlpTpgS0QQ4Q81BBKg1cRXOTX9gUAIHgxNGNpE8a_VDmvNdfYI1SpVq1/s1600/Cover_edited-2.web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJGcBBcgouTHflXuNEzPEFzRP6N3PHJDx4mi7KBFEUVi9c0BKajNL1oHqAAL9ph1WhXBoe48fnxqSlJeGk2LQSlpTpgS0QQ4Q81BBKg1cRXOTX9gUAIHgxNGNpE8a_VDmvNdfYI1SpVq1/s320/Cover_edited-2.web.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beginners-Guide-Pollinators-Flower-Visitors-ebook/dp/B00ZPTITMM/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1434591147&sr=1-1&keywords=beatriz+moisset" target="_blank">Amazon edition</a> of Beginners Guide to Pollinators and Other Flower Visitors came out just in time for Pollinator Week, 2015.<br />
<br />
Sample pages below:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0PCoc-tF1C1DQvVmfujhR38ieiwTSBl7UCh4LMCjtPml2ZstzFcR0PwgQbkDjCDoMih85dy_MXeiT3pLPq_jx-XZt-4toVgmrSTyjL3rBL-JxV1yTChd4l7bgrC3Z7ggYYm4b-zhGgOs/s1600/guide.wasps.moisset.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0PCoc-tF1C1DQvVmfujhR38ieiwTSBl7UCh4LMCjtPml2ZstzFcR0PwgQbkDjCDoMih85dy_MXeiT3pLPq_jx-XZt-4toVgmrSTyjL3rBL-JxV1yTChd4l7bgrC3Z7ggYYm4b-zhGgOs/s400/guide.wasps.moisset.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-25395625768941368522015-05-22T14:57:00.001-07:002017-09-03T12:26:33.659-07:00This Way to the Restaurant.<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZNkMnA0fdA0aQaCx_Ib8ERUmey_lHSbbh6wD36AXlr8ID_XhrMBqyAK_cFOoSVdiqvKA9R1u0bRoEVluuj40lwJUmWJFMTCh5ixG5sAc9esR_P_xzgKBMzz0iKnq-Cng5nCaIR0tNAEg/s1600/P5013593.w.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZNkMnA0fdA0aQaCx_Ib8ERUmey_lHSbbh6wD36AXlr8ID_XhrMBqyAK_cFOoSVdiqvKA9R1u0bRoEVluuj40lwJUmWJFMTCh5ixG5sAc9esR_P_xzgKBMzz0iKnq-Cng5nCaIR0tNAEg/s320/P5013593.w.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nectar guides <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10.1333332061768px; text-align: start;">© Beatriz Moisset</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
<b>Nectar Guides</b></h3>
</div>
<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Most flowers want to make it easy for
the visitor to find its way around. Thus, in addition to attracting
pollinators with their colors and aromas, they guide their visitors
in the right direction. This serves two purposes; it facilitates the
task of the pollinator and enables the flower to have its pollen
deposited where it is most needed.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Have you noticed the streaks of color
radiating from the center of many blossoms? These are the nectar
guides that tell the visitor: this is the way to the food. Violets
and lupines are good examples. The variety of violets is amazing. We
can count more than a hundred species and hybrids. Most of them are
native, although a few have been introduced from Europe. As a
footnote, it is worth mentioning that some violet species are the
food plant of fritillary butterflies.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFftEI1g58A997-ir49RpHFdJdrkb45UN9eUT53deGAim3ijRb6XYz_h9W8pwX2LaSVe3AX-9xvEX79UyvWpEOy9lZW3Wj-ZEHr_63LrLaVHNrzla8yiWCyqIcOgmDjudjp5Pn8lYfd8k/s1600/IMG_2754.w.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFftEI1g58A997-ir49RpHFdJdrkb45UN9eUT53deGAim3ijRb6XYz_h9W8pwX2LaSVe3AX-9xvEX79UyvWpEOy9lZW3Wj-ZEHr_63LrLaVHNrzla8yiWCyqIcOgmDjudjp5Pn8lYfd8k/s320/IMG_2754.w.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10.1333332061768px; text-align: start;">© Beatriz Moisset</span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Don’t you find it rather surprising
that the humble violet is the state flower of four states? It would
be more correct to say violets, plural. Illinois did not attempt to
specify which species, even after giving their flower the name of
purple violet to distinguish it from yellow violets. New Jersey and
Wisconsin chose the <i>Viola sororia </i>and Rhode Island, <i>Viola
palmata.</i> Botanists and horticulturists pay attention to these
things. However, legislators often ignore such details. This doesn't
matter since all violets exemplify the nectar guides vividly.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Illinois: Purple Violet (</b><i><b>Viola</b></i><b>)</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>New Jersey: Common Blue Violet
(</b><i><b>Viola sororia</b></i><b>)</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="es-AR"><b>Rhode Island:
Violet (</b></span><span lang="es-AR"><i><b>Viola palmata</b></i></span><span lang="es-AR"><b>)</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span lang="es-AR"><b>Wisconsin: </b></span><b>Common
Blue Violet</b><span lang="es-AR"><b> (</b></span><span lang="es-AR"><i><b>Viola
sororia</b></i></span><span lang="es-AR"><b>)</b></span><br />
<span lang="es-AR"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div lang="es-AR" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaQ81kNW1MWY2KqGn-_OihbXmYAzD35TQz6GBXs7v2YiUd7gabSdQxxixEKpAwU4hkvSY9D7tVqw7RBGcirPnyG6XyRY6nCezhNGLCBqwAEEB9aPTLo-fsDKMeRdKqcmTIqFy2OSN6TbE/s1600/Texas_Bluebonnet_(2)_(129892355)%2BJacopo%2BWerther.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaQ81kNW1MWY2KqGn-_OihbXmYAzD35TQz6GBXs7v2YiUd7gabSdQxxixEKpAwU4hkvSY9D7tVqw7RBGcirPnyG6XyRY6nCezhNGLCBqwAEEB9aPTLo-fsDKMeRdKqcmTIqFy2OSN6TbE/s320/Texas_Bluebonnet_(2)_(129892355)%2BJacopo%2BWerther.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: start;">Texas bluebonnet <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10.1333332061768px; text-align: start;">© </span><span style="font-size: 10.1333332061768px;"><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Texas_Bluebonnet_(2)_(129892355).jpg" target="_blank">Jacopo Werther</a>. Wikicommons</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
A slightly different type of nectar
guides is present in bluebonnets (<i>Lupinus</i>). This Texas state
flower includes all the species of bluebonnet that grow in that
state. The guides become visible only when the flower opens and becomes receptive to pollinators. Bluebonnets belong to the pea family, Fabaceae, which is
valuable to ecosystems because it enriches the soil by fixing
nitrogen.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b>Texas: Texas Bluebonnet (</b><i><b>Lupinus
</b></i><b>spp.)</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: 16pt;"><b>Bull’s Eye</b></span></h3>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Some
flowers use a different way to guide the pollinator to the desired
place. It is called bull's eye. The color of the flower's center
contrasts with the rest of the blossom. Several state flowers
illustrate variations of this theme. Maryland's black-eyed Susan and
Oklahoma's Indian blanket are fine examples. So are Florida's
tickseed and Kansas' sunflower.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyI2KXwwwKHtdQyRPp4UDQHq3g8zgmdIdOGgmNuf2HSnpMK76LV_ZFkObNDFLBZZvbOsdQQoSpVTx_N7I7LeF4El58watNMqu5z3pRH5cYvqi3biiqqbOhkybqg-fPsByRa_lGtjoycmb/s1600/IMG_7632.w.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyI2KXwwwKHtdQyRPp4UDQHq3g8zgmdIdOGgmNuf2HSnpMK76LV_ZFkObNDFLBZZvbOsdQQoSpVTx_N7I7LeF4El58watNMqu5z3pRH5cYvqi3biiqqbOhkybqg-fPsByRa_lGtjoycmb/s320/IMG_7632.w.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunflower<span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10.1333332061768px; text-align: start;">© Beatriz Moisset</span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Pollination
researchers played a trick on visitors to these flowers to test the
hypothesis that the bull's eye helped them find their way. They
methodically pulled out all the petals of flowers of this type and
glued them back in after reversing their position so that the darker
part was in the outside. True enough, bees would land on the blossom,
walk to the edge and stick their tongues out in search of nectar.
They must have been mighty puzzled and annoyed at finding none.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKB62Zn7m_fDSv8FrWC963TRCEZUPDA_jdhCF74a2_gj3a3SFz47PlVL8pv7ISb7yxoOuwVhM5rgGIOwZR4ibhQr3mG5RDkLGVEY127sEb7tPK_nPZLyfjIVPCAn6OiK5vRcUMztNTrN9O/s1600/P9156407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKB62Zn7m_fDSv8FrWC963TRCEZUPDA_jdhCF74a2_gj3a3SFz47PlVL8pv7ISb7yxoOuwVhM5rgGIOwZR4ibhQr3mG5RDkLGVEY127sEb7tPK_nPZLyfjIVPCAn6OiK5vRcUMztNTrN9O/s320/P9156407.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indian blanket. <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10.1333332061768px; text-align: start;">© Beatriz Moisset</span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Some
flowers, such as coreopsis, apparently lack this contrast. They
appear uniformly yellow to our eyes. But bees see certain colors that
escape us. They can see in the range of ultraviolet light, the
so-called black light. The flowers, in turn, have a pattern that
becomes visible only under this particular kind of light waves. The
flower that appears uniformly yellow to us is seen by a bee as having
a black center surrounded by a light halo.</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49vP91aACelQ5HUrty4JZSy_5QXP6BZwBVfFazriav-3kaqLDyH5cQjIb_sme1MDSJm0s2rpWumKfTa1hCvn6G7J6hBkkBwEn9Uti8qgWdas0Ygq2eXMRX6slvcuOKeMZQGfYb-t18XR6/s1600/coreopsis.hairstreak.w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49vP91aACelQ5HUrty4JZSy_5QXP6BZwBVfFazriav-3kaqLDyH5cQjIb_sme1MDSJm0s2rpWumKfTa1hCvn6G7J6hBkkBwEn9Uti8qgWdas0Ygq2eXMRX6slvcuOKeMZQGfYb-t18XR6/s320/coreopsis.hairstreak.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coreopsis. The bull's eye is visible only under ultraviolet light. <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10.1333332061768px; text-align: start;">© Beatriz Moisset</span><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Maryland,
Florida and Kansas have state flowers with bull's eyes, black-eyed
Susan, tickseed, and sunflower, respectively. Oklahoma is rather
unusual in having not one but three types of flower symbols: the
mistletoe as its floral emblem, the Oklahoma rose as its state flower
and the Indian blanket, as its state wildflower. The latter has a
conspicuous bull's eye.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Maryland:
Black-eyed Susan (</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Rudbeckia hirta</b></i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>)</b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Florida
(Wildflower): Tickseed (</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Coreopsis</b></i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>)</b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Kansas:
Sunflower (</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Helianthus annuus</b></i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>)</b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Oklahoma
(Wildflower): Indian Blanket (</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Gaillardia
pulchella</b></i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>)</b></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">This
article is about one of the many ways in which flowers increase the
efficiency of the pollination process. In the next post we'll see
examples of another strategy, frugality.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">See: <a href="http://pollinators.blogspot.com/2015/02/official-state-flowers.html" target="_blank">Pollinators of Official State Flowers</a></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<span style="color: blue;"><u><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>References</b></span></span></u></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.naturfotograf.com/UV_RUDB_HIR.html#top" target="_blank">Black-eyedSusan under ultraviolet light</a>
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><u><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/collections/statetreeflower.html">US
National Arboretum. Trees and Flower</a> </span></u></span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><u><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/Lists/state_flowers.html">State
Symbols, USA</a> </span></u></span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: blue;"><u><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.netstate.com/states/tables/st_flowers.htm">Netstate.
Official State Flowers</a> </span></u></span>
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Dowden,
Anne O. </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>State
Flowers. </i></span></span><span style="color: black;">1978</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;">Cooper,
Jason, </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The
Rourke Guide to State Symbols. Flowers</i></span></span><span style="color: black;">.
1942</span></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://pollinatingbee.blogspot.com/2010/02/list-of-articles.html">List of articles</a><br />
<a href="http://polinizador.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/an-easy-guide-to-the-most-frequent-flower-visitors/">Beginners
Guide to Pollinators and Other Flower Visitors</a><br />
<br />
<span class="unicode"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset. 2015</span></span><br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-2425570375276567712015-03-18T07:24:00.002-07:002021-09-07T10:45:33.690-07:00Mass Appeal and Pollination<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the many visitors to goldenrod. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">© Beatriz Moisset</span></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Many
flowers are not particularly selective; they welcome all kinds of visitors. They
are wide open, easily accessible, thus many insects can reach the nectar and/or
pollen regardless of whether their tongues are long or short. Such flowers
provide a convenient standing platform to save their visitors the inconvenience
of hovering over them. Their structure is simple so the pollinators don’t need
to figure out how to open them in order to reach their rewards. Goldenrod is a
fine example.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdTYaPlm0EZz-Vgifcc266fU68LPkd99aLQt6BywTL9n-fYlyM6z2XsRLYHA70BqTFKWSHcQ9_InOP8yQL2ALqbtb79f2go9iQQGchiUXGcm0jP2BqLKZF8dI1ljpGBBJv2JvobZwXnmO/s1600/IMG_3643.monarch.w.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdTYaPlm0EZz-Vgifcc266fU68LPkd99aLQt6BywTL9n-fYlyM6z2XsRLYHA70BqTFKWSHcQ9_InOP8yQL2ALqbtb79f2go9iQQGchiUXGcm0jP2BqLKZF8dI1ljpGBBJv2JvobZwXnmO/s1600/IMG_3643.monarch.w.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monarch butterfly on goldenrod. <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> I have
spent countless happy hours observing goldenrods and photographing their
numerous visitors. The one most common in my area is the Canada
goldenrod. Several hundreds of species visit their flowers. Bear in mind that
not all flower visitors qualify as pollinators. Some are not efficient at
carrying pollen, or sit in one place for a long time and never make it to
another plant. Such is the case of ambush bugs, whose only concern is to snare
hapless pollinators to make a meal out of them. If you are interested on
photographing and identifying pollinators this is a good place to start.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMl-l1pXgF4oKXlfSUDX0qTOQlHQzJbLno0C3SV27efeBrtjoLDKvaEuPA7PvO4TYUqCBYQWoP7dKKuqiinvFGVFqcVYMstCsl4jdgw20k1zwiysbJxh0jjN0nWeTgsAGsq-1vMER2m4Y/s1600/IMG_9948.c.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzMl-l1pXgF4oKXlfSUDX0qTOQlHQzJbLno0C3SV27efeBrtjoLDKvaEuPA7PvO4TYUqCBYQWoP7dKKuqiinvFGVFqcVYMstCsl4jdgw20k1zwiysbJxh0jjN0nWeTgsAGsq-1vMER2m4Y/s1600/IMG_9948.c.JPG" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metallic green bee. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">© Beatriz Moisset</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> This
plant blooms in the fall. It often gets blamed for allergies, but the real
culprit is another plant that grows close by, sometimes intermingled with
goldenrods, ragweed. Its flowers are inconspicuous because its pollen gets
carried by the wind, not by officious pollinators. This is how it gets into our
nostrils and causes our suffering. The much maligned goldenrods have larger,
heavier and stickier grains of pollen that cannot get airborne and that require
help from visitors.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Two
states, Kentucky and Nebraska, have the goldenrod as their state
flower. It is not clear which species of goldenrod Kentucky
picked, but it is likely the Canada
goldenrod (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Solidago altissima</i>). Nebraska’s choice is
clearer, the giant goldenrod (<i>Solidago gigantea</i>). South Carolina, not satisfied with a state
flower, also has a state wildflower. It is the Canada goldenrod. It is worth
mentioning that Delaware
has a state herb, </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">the anise-scented
or sweet goldenrod (<i>Solidago odora</i>).</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5KH4JAW11Gijj-WauaMF3V8VyO2hRIQ0lXQ3fHvPWyUGnTv34S7CigSiDcqGdu805zW6rq9RGq0He3kXXtlNeMQctVuuHS2qcHbLeo5MS4-5FjhLInT5Lvx9v57yCarkB5j5APZdEQpL/s1600/IMG_7762.7.12.07w.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5KH4JAW11Gijj-WauaMF3V8VyO2hRIQ0lXQ3fHvPWyUGnTv34S7CigSiDcqGdu805zW6rq9RGq0He3kXXtlNeMQctVuuHS2qcHbLeo5MS4-5FjhLInT5Lvx9v57yCarkB5j5APZdEQpL/s1600/IMG_7762.7.12.07w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bumble bee on sunflower. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">© Beatriz Moisset</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGtgGXIxPAhOgjCMdZoMWIIgpM79hCQrfVqjq0DbNaGM5OJFavBCgoU8ncdCjWuh7QK5u1A3-SKQFWQlKHpTB0rn_Cgyd13oEIa8N2BeTjUNzpbYGT0BHKRIGfOuSVp4R8EfZBJbLvc1h/s1600/P6220043.coreopsis.w.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGtgGXIxPAhOgjCMdZoMWIIgpM79hCQrfVqjq0DbNaGM5OJFavBCgoU8ncdCjWuh7QK5u1A3-SKQFWQlKHpTB0rn_Cgyd13oEIa8N2BeTjUNzpbYGT0BHKRIGfOuSVp4R8EfZBJbLvc1h/s1600/P6220043.coreopsis.w.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coreopsis. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">© Beatriz Moisset</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Two other state
flowers also have mass appeal. Like goldenrod, they are members of the daisy or
aster family, easy to access by different kinds of visitors. They are Kansas’ sunflower (<i>Helianthus annuus</i>) and Maryland’s Black-eyed
Susan (<i>Rudbeckia hirta</i>). It is worth mentioning here that two states, Florida and Mississippi,
chose the tickseed (<i>Coreopsis</i> spp.) as a state wildflower in addition to
their official state flowers, the orange blossom and the magnolia, respectively.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Kentucky</span></b><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">: Goldenrod</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Nebraska</span></b><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">: Goldenrod</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">South Carolina</span></b><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> (wildflower): Goldenrod</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Delaware</span></b><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> (herb): Goldenrod</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Kansas</span></b><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">: Sunflower</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Maryland</span></b><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">: Black-eyed Susan</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Florida</span></b><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> (wildflower): Coreopsis</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Mississippi</span></b><b><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> (wildflower): Coreopsis</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The indiscriminate
pollination strategy represented by all these flowers has advantages and also
disadvantages. They suffer no shortage of pollinators. If one species is doing
poorly one year, as it often happens in the insect world, there are plenty more
to fill in the deficiency. However, sometimes too much of a good thing can be
bad. Some of these non-specialized pollinators may be visiting a variety of
flowers instead of being faithful to just one species so they end up carrying
the wrong kind of pollen in such cases.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Blossoms
with such mass appeal give me the opportunity to introduce the reader to the
main groups of pollinators. They are all well represented on these mass appeal
flowers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizymTr9U25ABmACHD7ExX3mQ4nQsABcYGM4iIgeI-RkH7zS7sqr_eXkD1TAqd76qaxfDc_gFWYvAxekhygdaaze8W1qwlc-3V5qT3QxRLbFNX837qHFgYmPVFvRfkeZCTwOlpYDieN_bcA/s1600/P6271184.coreopsis.w.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizymTr9U25ABmACHD7ExX3mQ4nQsABcYGM4iIgeI-RkH7zS7sqr_eXkD1TAqd76qaxfDc_gFWYvAxekhygdaaze8W1qwlc-3V5qT3QxRLbFNX837qHFgYmPVFvRfkeZCTwOlpYDieN_bcA/s1600/P6271184.coreopsis.w.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Andrenidae bee <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">© Beatriz Moisset</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4A59GWLjdWn6elH6sstZ-QFkFlEJQ9d56Z6m3kl9-XYZ7HmUrPmrGPW6SVMbJK5GF48LyZV0p53aiWOnsnhn4y7n6q9jCoOlZZnqGZ2SEHkWK5FAOsnjuqTu7YJjNUia0qchWgyNXS8ER/s1600/IMG_8196.bumble.w.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4A59GWLjdWn6elH6sstZ-QFkFlEJQ9d56Z6m3kl9-XYZ7HmUrPmrGPW6SVMbJK5GF48LyZV0p53aiWOnsnhn4y7n6q9jCoOlZZnqGZ2SEHkWK5FAOsnjuqTu7YJjNUia0qchWgyNXS8ER/s1600/IMG_8196.bumble.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bumble bee. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">© Beatriz Moisset</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Let us
start by getting acquainted with bees. More than 80 species have been seen on goldenrods.
Some of them deserve mention. Bumble bees are larger than other bees, plump,
dark with yellow or white stripes, and hairy. Metallic green bees are small and
gorgeously colored. They may escape notice if one isn’t very observant; but it
is easy to become captivated by their shiny aspect. Mason bees and leaf-cutting
bees carry pollen on their underbelly, unlike most other bees that carry it on
their hind legs. Most of them are dark, nearly black and about the size of
honey bees or slightly smaller.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IXMSLbTJYi6GUoPI94JyW_p9JtPaB7aiqACFU36l92KRbaK5cWLavaywMyWyKaDTxbPVWyENAX-_u4XnjNh8aJdQZzNsVYNUDxiyh8bsrgE_RBVqcMSTejaX2XejdalSUlIfoUUe0AEJ/s1600/IMG_7559.14.w.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IXMSLbTJYi6GUoPI94JyW_p9JtPaB7aiqACFU36l92KRbaK5cWLavaywMyWyKaDTxbPVWyENAX-_u4XnjNh8aJdQZzNsVYNUDxiyh8bsrgE_RBVqcMSTejaX2XejdalSUlIfoUUe0AEJ/s1600/IMG_7559.14.w.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wasp. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">© Beatriz Moisset</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Wasps
are related to bees and sometimes people confuse them. Most wasps are less
hairy than bees and have narrow waists. They raise their young on a diet of insects
or spiders, instead of pollen and nectar as bees do. Adult wasps need nectar to
fuel their flight. Thus, they are frequent flower visitors and accomplish some
pollination.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMQbgEJcIiGH-_odWAQbrnMGHIFovL6iNK6oqGrbPCkRJxaArBKdPEI-VFO04MXkMJ0gWerszS1qkRNneOkMm5rurNkj79_DPuvnW0ZZcEuWwlSoqsMswcvJuiaRf-vYvrUts-lC82IUx/s1600/IMG_3384.10.11.w.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMQbgEJcIiGH-_odWAQbrnMGHIFovL6iNK6oqGrbPCkRJxaArBKdPEI-VFO04MXkMJ0gWerszS1qkRNneOkMm5rurNkj79_DPuvnW0ZZcEuWwlSoqsMswcvJuiaRf-vYvrUts-lC82IUx/s1600/IMG_3384.10.11.w.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Syrphid fly. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">© Beatriz Moisset</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwdIl_hC9GzBWCa2B2EZAfMmLWoZQCpBaj6RNNeF-_qfVKZG-vjr1E1Y1TCIauwfeRqnib1DNGY-D5ZxdoyIKXX5OgLQcru7_dhym4_-cfH3Qso9iCY0Rj96R7ZnkvyuwHBW1rX6NzE8u/s1600/P7023347.03w.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYwdIl_hC9GzBWCa2B2EZAfMmLWoZQCpBaj6RNNeF-_qfVKZG-vjr1E1Y1TCIauwfeRqnib1DNGY-D5ZxdoyIKXX5OgLQcru7_dhym4_-cfH3Qso9iCY0Rj96R7ZnkvyuwHBW1rX6NzE8u/s1600/P7023347.03w.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Syrphid fly. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">© Beatriz Moisset</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Many
types of flies, including mosquitoes and gnats visit flowers to feed on their
nectar. Some are good pollinators. The Syrphid flies, also called flower flies,
are among the most assiduous flower visitors. Most of them mimic bees or wasps
and are frequently mistaken for them. However, they don’t sting and there is no
reason to fear them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcVGId8DX__qVj9OgsGuvypwQzleVHWHRGyazIazUm5Z7QaxoqVih2M2sXmlBtwfIwhbiUvvo5tR1T3io-y4pEu6JvdilccSufcPU2QVX_Y-HHCgMfigxpB4zurESeDBqsCnMMEhjKclt/s1600/IMG_3249.10.11.w.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcVGId8DX__qVj9OgsGuvypwQzleVHWHRGyazIazUm5Z7QaxoqVih2M2sXmlBtwfIwhbiUvvo5tR1T3io-y4pEu6JvdilccSufcPU2QVX_Y-HHCgMfigxpB4zurESeDBqsCnMMEhjKclt/s1600/IMG_3249.10.11.w.JPG" width="281" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buckeye butterfly on goldenrod. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">© Beatriz Moisset</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUkkcPRlWm_QXrPYxBHuaeeV5pjuile0bA3atOKnKN8l68gDefuo4k72bYcVBNCc-oLXEAVCAFDdiYTyFFPSoY3rP8ZO1meNJQZI68-vk0Kb6RJAm8LL7BmrMUMVC4hSrfK00f2x9vC9q/s1600/P6271235.05w.Pyrausta+orphisalis.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmUkkcPRlWm_QXrPYxBHuaeeV5pjuile0bA3atOKnKN8l68gDefuo4k72bYcVBNCc-oLXEAVCAFDdiYTyFFPSoY3rP8ZO1meNJQZI68-vk0Kb6RJAm8LL7BmrMUMVC4hSrfK00f2x9vC9q/s1600/P6271235.05w.Pyrausta+orphisalis.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pyrausta moth on sunflower. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">© Beatriz Moisset</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWNWsnb50j37i8j8OSF6GDkFs85GqtZpIhXxJ2PmCN5qjUxZQT_YrBANEk5QWmDMsWkz9uP8GVBsrQsHWQqEKUQkPlDydi7aoH01f0e3jUlNzcfP1fNkLnODdwrXv8qe4kcqMJaaTb0jv/s1600/PA072292.02w.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWNWsnb50j37i8j8OSF6GDkFs85GqtZpIhXxJ2PmCN5qjUxZQT_YrBANEk5QWmDMsWkz9uP8GVBsrQsHWQqEKUQkPlDydi7aoH01f0e3jUlNzcfP1fNkLnODdwrXv8qe4kcqMJaaTb0jv/s1600/PA072292.02w.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow collared scape moth on goldenrod. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">© Beatriz Moisset</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Butterflies,
skippers and moths have extremely long tongues that they can use like drinking
straws when sipping nectar. They favor long necked flowers and carry pollen
from one to another.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfSIHzdFTdxCUNjukLQwFd0q4lsXhCM0ulGNpq-UfKUYhZBqcfs2SfH2rqY0Yp0N_XptXJ2G12UXxPDlHXgi-gqpP9zGJJlsNganlXzrp8y7vkTFJh_ItVUV2ez97MPSRX0ECJ-8LTKPw/s1600/IMG_1750.6.28.11.polish.w.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfSIHzdFTdxCUNjukLQwFd0q4lsXhCM0ulGNpq-UfKUYhZBqcfs2SfH2rqY0Yp0N_XptXJ2G12UXxPDlHXgi-gqpP9zGJJlsNganlXzrp8y7vkTFJh_ItVUV2ez97MPSRX0ECJ-8LTKPw/s1600/IMG_1750.6.28.11.polish.w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Polished lady beetle on sunflower. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">© Beatriz Moisset</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsQcc7YRPM8j7_-ZDKr61Jt5ezNW7ZTVKPkY0q6gs1xK8CYIzeQypzYbAAi8y6ITRbP7zVc2FWWoQ5hUF1IikkuiJSKTYiboRcgvguqI1hgwE7BGuKx4i2lBVeqtsvw0_UgYIaEUtpw2V/s1600/IMG_7578.9.9.09w.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijsQcc7YRPM8j7_-ZDKr61Jt5ezNW7ZTVKPkY0q6gs1xK8CYIzeQypzYbAAi8y6ITRbP7zVc2FWWoQ5hUF1IikkuiJSKTYiboRcgvguqI1hgwE7BGuKx4i2lBVeqtsvw0_UgYIaEUtpw2V/s1600/IMG_7578.9.9.09w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soldier beetle on goldenrod. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">© Beatriz Moisset</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Finally,
beetles, although not well specialized for pollination, are also capable of
doing so in special circumstances. We already mentioned magnolia pollination by
beetles. They also visit other flowers and can do a reasonably good job in some
cases.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">In the following
chapters we’ll see flowers that have chosen a different strategy. They are
pickier or more selective. Some attract a handful of visitors; a few go to the
extreme of having relationships with only one species of pollinators.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<![endif]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://pollinators.blogspot.com/2015/02/official-state-flowers.html" target="_blank">Pollinators of Official State Flowers</a> </span><br />
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">References</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://extension.psu.edu/programs/master-gardener/counties/northampton/news/2018/goldenrods-and-asters-great-pollinator-plants-for-the-fall">Goldenrods and Asters: Great PollinatorPlants for the Fall. Penn State Extension</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://pollinatingbee.blogspot.com/2010/02/list-of-articles.html">List of articles</a><br />
<a href="http://polinizador.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/an-easy-guide-to-the-most-frequent-flower-visitors/">Beginners
Guide to Pollinators and Other Flower Visitors</a><br />
<br />
<span class="unicode"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset. 2015</span></span><br />
</div>
Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7334304488486587767.post-76936954404030749102015-03-02T04:00:00.000-08:002017-09-03T12:29:14.071-07:00The Earliest Pollinators: Beetles and Flies<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKLqI7lYvtl8nWz0Scxp1LaChLVxkJzY7wt1-ruxsaTEv4rIPjYel_S-78t_bUyLoteN-m8EibckEFkRn9G5SbSrHsIdZ1p9mqZctlTioswgkDXw4a0Rd7_Un4ROgfnaIC50i-VXmG5TZ/s1600/P4019405.4.1.06w.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKKLqI7lYvtl8nWz0Scxp1LaChLVxkJzY7wt1-ruxsaTEv4rIPjYel_S-78t_bUyLoteN-m8EibckEFkRn9G5SbSrHsIdZ1p9mqZctlTioswgkDXw4a0Rd7_Un4ROgfnaIC50i-VXmG5TZ/s1600/P4019405.4.1.06w.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magnolia <span style="font-size: x-small;">© Beatriz Moisset</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">By the
time the first flowering plants appeared on Earth there weren’t any bees or
butterflies. Those superb pollinators would take millions of years to evolve
from wasps and moths respectively. So, who would be attracted to flowers? Who
would carry pollen?</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Other
insects, although not adapted to sipping nectar and storing pollen in little
baskets, liked to visit flowering plants to eat the pollen. Sometimes, they
also devoured the flowers themselves. Beetles and flies were among the earliest
pollinators. These two groups of insects visit the flowers of magnolia and
water lilies to this day. In general, flowers pollinated by beetles are cup-shaped
to allow these insects to stay for some time. They are strongly scented by
fruity or rotten smell. The petals may be tough and leathery, helping them to put
up with the abuse; many of them are greenish or creamy white.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjjKu8bjiPZk3qzHA6yX0_9w4ynrI3Ug_KU67_escbpTP6mwJVBt490DMPO50BKq4kQUWJqU6x3k0GxFRjrowxmijwJGvXNzePMsIza9GP8ojJdrz6mVeRAHR3btvMF-75j-nf-SqM5p1/s1600/P6211025.6.21.06w.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjjKu8bjiPZk3qzHA6yX0_9w4ynrI3Ug_KU67_escbpTP6mwJVBt490DMPO50BKq4kQUWJqU6x3k0GxFRjrowxmijwJGvXNzePMsIza9GP8ojJdrz6mVeRAHR3btvMF-75j-nf-SqM5p1/s1600/P6211025.6.21.06w.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tumbling flower beetles on magnolia<span style="font-size: x-small;"> © Beatriz Moisset</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The
state flower of Louisiana and of Mississippi is the
Magnolia (<i>Magnolia grandiflora</i>) which is an example of some of the
oldest flowering plants; it presents all the qualities listed above and it is
pollinated by beetles that use the flowers as a singles bar. They stay for
hours eating, drinking, mating and making a mess of the place. When they
arrive, usually only the female part of the flower is mature enough, so if they
carry pollen from other flowers they get cross-pollinated, but by the time the
beetles leave, the stamens or male parts have become ripe. The visitors get
easily dusted with it and ready to carry it to the next awaiting singles bar.
Beetles and flies find a coating of nectar covering the petals that
they can slurp as they go along.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjT8rgADBvN5DErLggyQO21wVCdbqoCJnnmTw7Vkuw-Iu18GI4b5LMeEifYonmGlfTW19H1scU3fIBELp2z2jLHOY3yyCxUpZSXSPjDE6FPM9pt5u1dD_i9eVXa3TXobgKzizQf0AuYkO/s1600/P6150365.w.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjT8rgADBvN5DErLggyQO21wVCdbqoCJnnmTw7Vkuw-Iu18GI4b5LMeEifYonmGlfTW19H1scU3fIBELp2z2jLHOY3yyCxUpZSXSPjDE6FPM9pt5u1dD_i9eVXa3TXobgKzizQf0AuYkO/s1600/P6150365.w.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dance fly on Magnolia <span style="font-size: xx-small;"> © Beatriz Moisset</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It is
worth mentioning here the tulip tree (<i>Liriodendron tulipifera</i>) because
it is the state tree of Indiana, Kentucky and Tennessee.
The state flowers of Indiana and Tennessee are not
native; they are the peony and iris, respectively, so I like to think of the
tulip tree blossom as the honorary state flower of these two states. The tulip
tree is a relative of magnolias, equally ancient; its flower bears some
resemblance to magnolias. It is also pollinated by beetles, although bees and
other insects also contribute to its pollination. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Another
ancient flower, the California poppy (<i>Eschscholzia californica</i>), California’s state
flower is also pollinated by beetles in some instances. These are more numerous
than bees in arid areas. Several species of bees, including honey bees also
pollinate these flowers.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuiopQf9s-EEmoUtbKW9x8QAW0xmEr6N3bFLb7TsPa8BCSNbtMGKIuzR3juf8UaZNluV7jdI6QiKDQMDCOr5RKT_PcTky9EUNMJitWwGEoQxE7l3zXkjiCKV1_M8rNpAjQBAPftH4omwT/s1600/california+poppy.notmine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSuiopQf9s-EEmoUtbKW9x8QAW0xmEr6N3bFLb7TsPa8BCSNbtMGKIuzR3juf8UaZNluV7jdI6QiKDQMDCOr5RKT_PcTky9EUNMJitWwGEoQxE7l3zXkjiCKV1_M8rNpAjQBAPftH4omwT/s1600/california+poppy.notmine.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">California poppy © <a href="https://www.blogger.com/www.flickr.com/photos/audreyjm529;" target="_blank">Audrey. Flickr</a></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: black;">State flowers that illustrate the earliest pollinators: </span></b><br />
<span style="color: black;">Louisiana</span><span style="color: black;">: Magnolia</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Mississippi</span><span style="color: black;">: Magnolia</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">California</span>: California Poppy</div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Once
plants came up with this novel solution to their fertilization process, there
was no stopping them. Evolution accelerated and an ever growing variety of
flowering plants emerged from the older lineages. In turn, more insects evolved
to take advantage of this resource. This is how some carnivorous wasps went
vegetarian. They became what we now know as bees. Pollen and nectar supplied
all their needs. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Also
some moths developed a taste for nectar during their adult life. Unlike most
moths, they were diurnal and often sported fancy colors. In other words, they
evolved into butterflies. Being frequent flower visitors they became
pollinators. This is not to say that wasps and moths, the predecessors of bees
and butterflies don’t pollinate. In fact some of them are valuable and are highly
specialized ones. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The following posts deal with these pollinators and their flowers. We will start with the ones who invite a wide assortment of guests. They have mass appeal and several state flowers illustrate this nicely.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://pollinators.blogspot.com/2015/02/official-state-flowers.html" target="_blank">Pollinators of Official State Flowers</a> </span><br />
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</xml><![endif]--><a href="http://pollinators.blogspot.com/2015/03/mass-appeal-and-pollination.html" target="_blank">Mass Appeal and Pollination</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://pollinatingbee.blogspot.com/2010/02/list-of-articles.html">List of articles</a><br />
<a href="http://polinizador.wordpress.com/2013/04/03/an-easy-guide-to-the-most-frequent-flower-visitors/">Beginners
Guide to Pollinators and Other Flower Visitors</a><br />
<br />
<span class="unicode"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© Beatriz Moisset. 2015</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />Beatriz Moissethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05745938472052790104noreply@blogger.com0