Reply to: [log in to unmask]
 
  They say that roaches would survive a nuclear winter. At any rate, they are
still in plentiful supply here, along with gnats, mosquitoes and fire ants.
   But I agree, populations of many pollinators are dropping. Right now, in
many areas is a good time to get a rough evaluation. Find a patch of
goldenrod or aster in full bloom. If you can find a sold patch, say 3x3m, you
can get some consistancy from one area to another.
Stand still and count for one minute, the members of each species you see.
This should be done on a day when conditions are favorable for insect
activity. I do it several times and average.
   I realize this is not very scientific, there are too many variables. But
there is a lot of value in just observation, particularly when you compare
different areas and different years.
   Both goldenrod and aster are very high producers of nectar, so, if there
are pollinators in the area, they will be drawn to these blooms. I've been
watching this type of activity for several years. Three years ago, I made an
X across South Carolina, and did a rough survey along those two lines NE to
SW and NW to SE. I found that there are "holes," especially on the coastal
plain, where there are no honeybees at all (and right now I won't go into the
possible reasons). I find this of serious concern, as an environmental
problem, but few here seem to care. Bees have an image problem; they aren't
lovable enough.
   Bombus numbers are declining too, although I did not find any areas where
they were completely absent.
   There were a few areas with very high concetrations of solitary bees. Of
course these are not always general pollinators: some are more or less
adapted to a single food source or season, and are dormant the rest of the
year.
   Interestingly goldenrod will draw a lot of wasps, and sometimes blowflies,
that are never seen on any other flower. Perhaps it is the rank odor that
draws these scavengers.
   Goldenrod is so good for honeybees that the resource is not fully
utilized. I remember walking between two bee yards that were about a half
mile apart, during the peak of bloom. Bees covered the plants within a couple
hundred yards of the apiaries, but thinned out rapidly, and in the middle
there were virtually no bees. (Upstate NY near Buffalo)
   Goldenrod is just opening here in SC, so I haven't gotten into it this
year. I'll keep you posted.  I'd also love to hear from others on this.
Northern goldenrod may be finishing up now, but aster should be in full
swing.
 
:) News release: The last medfly in California died in a tragic accident last
week. Ten million of his buddies came winging in from the Mediterranean to
attend the wake.