PolliNation Podcast

272 - The Milwaukee Pollinator Pathway Oct 28, 2024

What does it take to create a certified pollinator pathway? This week on PolliNation, Colleen Rockwell, the Environmental Committee Chair for Milwaukie's Rotary Club, shares how Milwaukie became only the second certified pollinator pathway in Oregon.

Learn more about the Pollinator Pathway in Milwaukie here: https://www.pollinator-pathway.org/towns/milwaukie

Also, if you are interested in the fundraiser in Portland for the Oregon Bee Atlas, register here: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/master-melittologist/events/bees-bottles-biodiversity-fundraiser-oregon-bee-atlas

271 - The MIGHTY Tamalpais Bee Lab Oct 17, 2024

The last record of the Leafcutter Bee (Trachusa gummifera) in Marin County was in 1977. That is, until the One Tam Community Science Program had a documented sighting of it nearly 47 years later.

This week we hear from Sara Leon Guerrero, a manager of the One Tam Community Science Program through the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. Sara tells us how One Tam is leading the way in bridging ecological data gaps, implementing long-term monitoring efforts, and fostering curiosity and community participation.

Learn more about the Tamalpais Bee Lab here:

https://www.onetam.org/tamalpais-bee-lab

270 - Mason Bees and the Cold Oct 14, 2024

What happens to Mason bees after a number of consecutive cold days? Let's say a female lays an egg. What happens to it? Does it die? This week on PolliNation we welcome back Dr. Jim Cane and Ron Spendal to discuss their new paper "Eggs of the bee Osmia lignaria endure weeks of prolonged cold weather" https://www.researchgate.net/publication/381743824_Eggs_of_the_bee_Osmia_lignaria_endure_weeks_of_prolonged_cold_weather

269 - Bees in the Arboretum Oct 07, 2024

This week we explore Minnesota's Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center through the University of Minnesota's Landscape Arboretum. Ping Honzay, an educator and beekeeper at the Bee and Pollinator Discovery Center, discusses the innovative programs that engage the community and highlight the importance of pollinators.

268 - Birds and Flowers Sep 30, 2024

Everyone knows that hummingbirds visit flowers. But have you ever wondered how many other kinds of birds visit flowers and how important are they to the overall pollination ecology of flowering plants? This week we hear from Dr. Jeff Ollerton on his new book "Birds and Flowers: An Intimate 50 Million Year Relationship" https://pelagicpublishing.com/products/birds-and-flowers

266 - Farm to school (and pollinators) Sep 22, 2024

This week we hear about Oregon's Farm to School program and how it helps make the connection between Oregon agriculture and pollinators in the classroom. We are joined by Rick Sherman (Farm to Child Nutrition Program Manager at the Oregon Department of Education) and Michelle Markesteyn (Farm to School Specialist at Oregon State University Extension), who also host a great podcast (available on YouTube, Spotify and iTunes).

265 - Oregon Honey and Mead Festival Sep 13, 2024

This week we talk about the upcoming (Sept 21, 2024) Oregon Honey and Mead Festival with organizer Sharon Schmidt (Cascade Girl Organization) and Marla Bull Bear, one of the presenters who is the Director, Lakota Youth Development and Honey Lodge Program. Details on this year's festival can be found at: https://www.cascadegirl.org

264 - Could changes in pesticide hazard to bees be detected across a state? Aug 31, 2024

Bees are exposed to pesticide hazards in a variety of ways. Estimating how hazards to bees are changing over time, across an area as large as a state, is a daunting prospect. This week we hear about an attempt to estimate changes in hazards in a new paper by Dr. Emily Carlson, a recent PhD student from Oregon State University.

263 - National Pollen Phenology Wheel Aug 19, 2024

Beekeepers often have a sense of periods of intense nectar flows, but it is a lot more difficult to assess pollen flows. In this episode we talk with Priya Chakrabarti Basu from Mississippi State University who talks about a new initiative to provide beekeepers with a better sense of the pollen flows of their region.

262 - Buddleja and the bees Aug 12, 2024

Butterfly bush is a hardy shrub that pollinators love. But under certain situations it can become invasive, which has led to laws to limit the sale to sterile varieties and interspecific hybrids. But there is a question of whether the hybrids are really sterile and whether sterility impacts the benefits to bees. We get answers to these questions this week with Cara Stills, from the Ornamental Plant Breeding Program at Oregon State University.

261 - Making observations on ground nesting bees Jul 13, 2024

While roughly 70% of bee species are ground nesting, we know very little about the nesting biology of anything more than a handful of species. In this episode we hear from Dr. Jordan Kueneman and his project GNBees to generate more data from the public.

Dr. Jordan Kueneman is a research scientist and director of Project GNBee, a community science project dedicated to research and conservation of ground-nesting bees.

Web page: https://www.gnbee.org/ https://www.danforthlab.entomology.cornell.edu/people/jordan-kueneman/

iNaturalist Project: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/ground-nesting-bees-3e6882c0-a112-4ddb-b043-1da25638ce96

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/projectgnbee/?img_index=1

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmWEIK6AhrOe307h92Jrk-g

Facebook: Ground-Nesting Bee Crew

Book recommendation: The Solitary Bees: Biology, Evolution, Conservation

Go-to-tool: Michener CD. The bees of the world. JHU press; 2000.

Favorite pollinator species: Andrena regularis

260 - Hornet invasion in the UK (and how they are fighting back) May 20, 2024

The Yellow-Legged Hornet has landed in the US southeast. The hornet is originally from Asia, but is has spread widely into Europe. This week we hear from Maggie Gill, a senior scientist with the National Bee Unit in the UK tells about the innovative methods developed in the UK to track and erradicate these hornets.

259 - Washington State Update (so much news) Apr 21, 2024

This episode we catch up with Katie Buckley the Pollinator Health Coordinator for Washington State Department of Agriculture. She tells us about two new pollinator bills that passed in the Washington Legislature, as well as the growing Washington Bee Atlas.

258 - Tillamook Apiary and Garden Learning Center (aka there is more to Tillamook than cheese) Apr 01, 2024

This week we hear about a remarkable initiative in Tillamook, Oregon. Known for its world famous dairy, its home to an industrious beekeeping club that is providing top-notch education to the region (and the thousands of people who come through it each summer).

257 - Lotmaria... the bee gut organism you have never heard of Mar 10, 2024

Adult honey bees have a variety of organisms that live in their guts. Some are benign but some, like Nosema ceranae, can be pathogentic. In this episode we hear of Courtney MacInnis' relentless pursuit of understanding the status of an organism you have never heard of - Lotmaria passim - both on its own, and in combination with Nosema ceranae. Her findings are most unexpected.

256 - Backyard Habitat Certification Feb 19, 2024

In this episode we hear from Susie Peterson who is the co-manager of the very popular Backyard Habitat Certification Program in Oregon. The program is managed in partnership with Portland Audubon and can help you better design your backyard for biodiversity.

255 - Stay out! The perils of commercial bumble colonies to wild queens. Feb 05, 2024

Bumble bee queens have been known to try and take over already established nests. Sometimes they manage to take over the nest and increase their own reproductive success. But according to new research from Heather Grab this is not what happens when a wild bumble bee queen tries to take over a commercial bumble bee colony.

254 - Restoring Pollinator Habitat with Greenbelt Land Trust Jan 22, 2024

Land Trusts punch above their weight in creating pollinator habitat. In this episode we talk with Greenbelt Land Trust of some of their innovative methods for restoring pollinator habitat on a working farm.

253 - Bee Friendly Farming in the PNW Dec 11, 2023

Bee Friendly Farming is an initiative to certify agricultural production for taking steps to help bees. This week we hear about the expansion of the program to the Pacific Northwest, specifically with regards to wine grapes.

252 - Maximizing pollination potential in cherries Nov 27, 2023

Bees are just one part of maximizing cherry yield. Before the bees arrive, cherries have to be pruned properly and given the right nutrition. Also, bee attractive cover crops can help rejuvinate the soil before replanting. We hear about all the tricks to maximizing pollination success in cherries from Mike Omeg of Orchard View Cherries.

251 - Surveying for American foulbrood in honey Nov 12, 2023

American foulbrood (AFB) is one of the most damaging diseases of honey bees. Up until now, beekeepers have lacked an early warning system to know whether the disease is rising in their colonies. In this episode we hear from Dr. Sarah Wood about an innovative system for surveying for AFB in honey,

250 - Garden bees of Portland Oct 30, 2023

Have you ever wondered which fuzzy yellow bee you just saw visiting a flower? In this episode, guest host Jen Hayes interviews Nicole Bell about two new and free resources that explore 67 species of bees found in Portland area gardens. Jen and Nicole are both graduate student members of OSU's Garden Ecology Lab.

249 - How to buy a native plant Oct 23, 2023

As nursery catalogs start to show up in our mailboxes and we think about the plants we want to grow next season, it's easy to get overwhelmed. In this episode, guest host Nicole Bell talks with Jen Hayes about two handouts that can help you better understand plant labels and discover if the plant in front of you is a wild-type native plant, a cultivar, or some other plant form! Jen and Nicole are both graduate student members of OSU's Garden Ecology Lab.

248 - The art of pollination Oct 18, 2023

This week we hear a facinating conversation between an established mutimedia artist (Jasna Guy) and young artist and melittologist (Marek Stanton) on how art, ecology and the natural world overlap.

247 - Too hot for pollen? Oct 09, 2023

There have been extreme temperatures during the pollination of early season crops. In this episode we explore how these temperatures not only influence the activity of pollinating insects, but also the pollen they are shuttling around.

246 - Prairie Strips Sep 25, 2023

Prairie ecosystems are essential to many pollinator species across North America. Generating prairie after its been lost can be challenging. This week we travel to Iowa to hear from the STRIPS (Science-based Trails of Rowcrops Integrated with Prairie Strips) team. They have been perfecting how to get growers to install prairie strips on the edges of their farms.

245 - Bee Friendly Gardening with Elliott Gordon Sep 18, 2023

We continue on our bee friendly gardening kick with a trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico to hear how one naturalist transformed his front yard into biodiversity hotspot. Using tools like iNaturalist, he has documented over 90 bee species and 1,200 other insects on less than a quarter acre of land.

244 - Bee Friendly Gardening with Lynn Kunstman Sep 11, 2023

This week we continue our September on Bee Friendly Gardening with a southern Oregon Master Gardener who has a passion for native plants.

243 - Bee Friendly Gardening Sep 03, 2023

With the season for pollinator gardening winds down, it is a great time to start planning your garden for next year. In this episode we we learn about a national program to connect gardeners together and provide them with resources to up their pollinator gardener game.

242 - Bee Friendly Wine (King Estate) Aug 09, 2023

The Oregon Bee Friendly Wine Tour is coming to an end for 2023. We hear about what makes King Estate a great place for bees, get some gardening tips and hear about an event hosted along with the Save the Bee Foundation.

241 - Rip out your lawn (and replace it with subalpine meadow) Jul 17, 2023

This week we hear from Dr. Phil Allen who has the audacious idea of reducing water use and increasing benefits to pollinator by replacing lawns with subalpine meadows.

240 - Bumble bee nest relocation and rearing Jul 10, 2023

Bumble bees nest in the darndest places - like bird houses and water meters. In this episode we learn about how to relocate bumble bee colonies. We also figure out how to get bumble bee nests where you want them, by rearing colonies from queens that emerge in the spring.

239 - Oregon Master Beekeeper Field Day Jun 26, 2023

Beekeeping takes a lot of training and mentorship. In many states, the place to learn the finer points of this trade is in state Master Beekeeper programs. We hear about the Oregon program through its annual field day.

238 - National Pollinator Week 2023 Jun 19, 2023

It's National Pollinator Week next week. We hear about what makes effective public engagement on pollinators and of a new event in Vancouver, Washington, the Pollinator Festival.

237 - Bee Friendly Wine (Sokol Blosser) Jun 12, 2023

A number of Oregon vineyards are working together to enhance the habitat for bees (which includes over 700 species in Oregon). In this episode we visit one of those vineyards, Sokol Blosser Winery, and learn about how they are working to improve habitat for their bees.

236 - Vanderpool - (Very) wet start to PNW beekeeping Apr 23, 2023

This week we hear about what this cold and wet spring has meant for Pacific Northwest beekeepers (and the crops they pollinate).

235 - Kulhanek - Washington's new Pollinator Health Research and Extension Program! Apr 04, 2023

There are some amazing things happening for pollinators in Washington State these days. This week we hear about the brand new Pollinator Health Research and Extension Program.

234 - Goldstein - Colony strength and blueberry pollination Mar 05, 2023

This week we hear why the strength of the colonies, not just the stocking rate, matters for blueberry pollination and how growers can evaluate strength in the field.

233 - Hill - The Latest Buzz Feb 26, 2023

This week we hear about one of the best kept secrets, a newsletter from USDA that gives a regular update on what is going on in the pollinator world.

232 - Shannon - Do adjuvants influence bee health? Feb 10, 2023

Pesticide applicators frequently add adjuvants to help their pesticide applications be more effective or safer to use. Adjuvants, however, are not assessed for their risk to bees by regulators. We hear about new research that assesses the safety of these products to bees.

231 - Dean - Georgia bee license plate Feb 07, 2023

Oregon is going to be getting a new bee plate. We hear about our inspiration from beekeepers in Georgia.

230 - Eeraerts - Stocking honey bee colonies for the landscape Jan 01, 2023

Extension guides often offer blanket recommendations for honey bee colony stocking rates on a field scale. This week we learn about new blueberry research that suggests these recommendations need to take the landscape into consideration.

229 - Lu - Marker assisted selection 101 (for breeding honey bees) Dec 21, 2022

Breeding honey bees is notoriously difficult. New molecular techniques may help.

228 - Rinkevich - Are varroa resistant to amitraz? Dec 14, 2022

Beekeepers across North America depend on an acaricide containing amitraz to manage varroa mites, the most challenging pest problem bees face. In this episode we learn of a large scale effort to determine whether the mites are still susceptible to the treatments and what beekeepers can do if they face amitraz resistant mites.

227 - Lindsay- Matching plants to bees Dec 07, 2022

It is often assumed that a single blend of flowers could serve all bees equally. In this episode we hear about some new research that considers how it might make sense to tailor resource availability in restored habitats to bee preference in an area.

226 - Spendal - Those amazing mason bees Nov 07, 2022

Much of what we know about the life history of mason bees is based on very few observations. This week we hear from a new study that shows how many of our assumptions about these bees have underestimated these amazing bees.

225 - Chabert - Would blueberry yield benefit from planting different cultivars together? Oct 25, 2022

Blueberries are a big crop in the Pacific Northwest, but the question of how blueberry yield might benefit from outcrossing among cultivars (like apples and cherries) is not clear. This week we hear about research to determine the benefits of outcrossing in blueberries.

224 - Jennings and Willson - Washington Native Bee Society (WANBS) Oct 18, 2022

If you are interested in native bees and a member of the public where do you go? Washington has a new approach, namely the formation of a native bee society, which enables people across a wide range of interests to get together and work towards the preservation of the bees of the Evergreen State.

223 - Youngsteadt - Urban bees: what drives diversity and how do we measure it? Oct 02, 2022

Gardening and landscaping for urban wild bees is growing. While there is a lot of attention to the flowers to help bees, what else drives diversity? Also, how is diversity measured? In this episode we learn about the broader factors that determine diversity and the biases involved with measuring bee diversity with pan traps.

222 - Danielsen - Pollinator habitat on water pipelines? Sep 25, 2022

As water pipelines are buried to conserve water, this leaves a lot of land that could be converted to pollinator habitat. In this episode we learn of an initiative from Hood River County in Oregon.

221 - Taylor - Bees and school farms Sep 19, 2022

Urban farms are becoming more common on school grounds. In this episode we hear how bees can be a critical part of student experience at school urban farms.

220 - Washington Co Master Gardener - Pollinator Outreach (par excellence) Sep 04, 2022

2022 was the year we were able to get back out to public events to talk to the public about pollinators. Some of us were a little rusty. In this episode we hear about how to pull off an excellent event and how to involve Master Gardeners.

219 - Labuschagne - Living through a Varroapocolypse Aug 22, 2022

The Canadian prairie region is home to the bulk of that country’s colonies. Last year it suffered crippling losses to varroa mites. In this episode we see what we can learn from these periodic heavy varroa infestation years.

218 - Casey Holland - What the heck does IPM mean (in New Mexico)? Aug 14, 2022

Integrated pest management (IPM) is a key dimension of pollinator protection. This week we head to Chispas Farm in Albuquerque, New Mexico on how they use an integrated method to protect their plants from pests and encourage pollinators.

217 - O'Shea-Wheller - Are varroa resistant bees ready for primetime with the POL line? Aug 08, 2022

Varroa resistant bees have been on the horizon for over a decade. This week we learned how close these lines are to being used commercially through a recent study of the POL line.

216 - Yang and Henle - Machines learning to classify insecticides as toxic to bees Jul 31, 2022

A new study uses machine learning to classify whether a pesticide is toxic to bees or not.

215 - Mahood - Drone congregation areas Jun 19, 2022

Central to honey bee mating are drone congregation areas (DCAs). In this episode we learn how to locate DCAs using unmanned aerial devises (aka, drones).

214 - Paul - Mason Bees in (an unusually) Cool Wet Spring Jun 13, 2022

It’s been a cold and wet spring across the Pacific Northwest region. In this episode we learn about what impacts it may have had on cocoon production and what you can do to ensure you maintain bee productivity across a range of spring conditions.

213 - Whitford and Feken - The complex life of the honey bee Jun 06, 2022

Honey bees have complex societies, which makes their response to environmental stressors difficult to understand. Consequently, the ways in which pesticide risk is assessed for bees can be complicated, nuanced and overwhelming. In this episode we cut through the tangle of all this complexity through a new extension publication.

212 - Clay Bolt - Grassland Pollinators May 29, 2022

Grasslands are often overlooked in terms of pollinator habitat. But they are key to many of the bee and butterfly species in the U.S. In this episode we hear about programs from the World Wildlife Foundation Fund to preserve grassland habitat in Montana.

211 - Morfin - New Tech Transfer Program in BC May 13, 2022

British Columbia beekeepers have made a major investment in preparing for the future in launching a tech transfer program. Hear about this program and the challenges it hopes to address for beekeepers in BC.

210 - Coffan - What’s going on with Western Monarchs May 02, 2022

The Western monarch butterfly population appears to have recovered from a tremendously low number of butterflies returning to overwintering grounds a few years ago. In this episode we try to understand what still remains unknown about this remarkable migrating butterfly species.

209 - Burgett - Working together in the PNW Apr 03, 2022

There has been a long tradition of people working together to help bees across state and provincial boundaries in the Pacific Northwest region. In this episode we discover where this cooperative approach came from.

208 - Merissa Moeller - Endangered Species Act 101 Mar 14, 2022

The federal Endangered Species Act is almost 50 years old and it has been a key mechanism for assisting the recovery of many insect pollinators and plant species they depend on. In this episode we get a crash course on how the Act works.

207 - Andony Melathopoulos - How did I get into bees? Mar 06, 2022

This week the tables get turned on the host of PolliNation as guest host Miranda Jones asks how did Andony get into bees in the first place.

206 - Ellen Topitzhofer - The Holy Grail: Banking Queens Over the Winter Mar 01, 2022

The holy grail of beekeeping is taking mated queens from the summer and banking them so that they are available the following spring, at a time when queen supply is tight. This week we hear about work underway to figure out how to bank queens through the winter in Oregon.

205 - George Kaufman - What the heck does IPM mean (in blueberries)? Feb 16, 2022

Creating habitat for beneficial insects is a key part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). In this episode we hear how an Oregon blueberry farm has gone large scale in creating pollinator hedgerows.

204 - Josée Rousseau - Birds and the bees: How bird data can inform us on where insect pollinators live Jan 30, 2022

The data we have on the natural history of birds, as well as their ranges, is far richer than for insect pollinators. This week we learned about an innovative approach to use bird data to inform what we know about insect pollinator populations.

203 - Dana Church - How humans changed the world of bumble bees Jan 26, 2022

When people think about beekeeping, their minds turn to honey bees. But humans have influenced the course of natural history for other bees as well. This week we hear about a wonderful new book that considers the ways humanity has shaped the fate of bumble bees.

202 - Moyer - Getting Bees Out of the Walls Jan 16, 2022

Sometimes bees will swarm into structures. Getting them out of the structures is not as easy as some on YouTube make it seem. This week we hear about how one bee club has figured out how to easily remove bees from tricky places.

201 - Nico Ardans - What the heck does IPM mean (in nurseries)? Dec 31, 2021

This week we start a new series looking into what integrated pest management (IPM), not as a conceptual framework, but on the ground, where pollinators are scooting around and living their lives. This week we head to a commercial nursery.

200 - OSU Pollinator Health Lab - An Expose! Dec 06, 2021

PolliNation has reached 200 episodes. It has also been 5 years since the OSU Pollinator Health Lab came into existence. To mark the occasion we go behind the scenes to see how the Lab came together and its plans for the future.

199 - Kayla Perry - What drives bumble bee community composition? Nov 27, 2021

The type of insect pollinators you find within a region can vary depending on broad categories of land use. This week we learn about the potential mechanisms that drive this variation, focusing on bumble bees.

198 - James Tracy - Monarch collisions on roadways Nov 22, 2021

Monarch butterflies have been experiencing declines in North America. In this week’s episode we hear about the significance of monarch butterfly collisions on interstates and an innovative method to reduce this source of butterfly mortality.

197 - Laura Johnson - Bee Health in Vermont Nov 08, 2021

This week we head to Vermont to hear about the brand new pollinator health position.

196 - Bob Walters - Bee Check Oct 24, 2021

A key principle of state Managed Pollinator Protection plans is to increase communication between beekeepers and pesticide applicators during crop pollination. In this episode, we hear about an initiative to map bee colonies to help applicators find bee colonies in the landscape to help facilitate beekeeper-applicator communication.

195 - Maddie Carpenter - What is the North American honey bee? Oct 17, 2021

Honey bees are not native to North America, but they have been here for hundreds of years. In this episode we dive into the deep history of honey bee importations to North America and learn how molecular technologies can provide insight into the subspecies character of contemporary North American honey bee populations.

194 - Joe Maresh - Oregon State Beekeepers Association Conference Oct 04, 2021

It’s the 100th anniversary of the Oregon State Beekeepers Association and to celebrate beekeepers are holding a hybrid conference (in person and online). This week we hear about some of the highlights of the conference and what to look forward to.

193 - Laurie Adams and Josette Lewis - California Pollinator Coalition Sep 29, 2021

This week we hear about an ambitious new initiative in California to increase the adoption of pollinator-friendly practices on working lands.

192 - Lisa DeVetter - Blueberry Pollination Planner Sep 20, 2021

The blueberry industry is one of the most dynamic fruit sectors in the US. As a consequence, what was recommended for pollination a few decades ago may no longer apply. This week we hear about a new initiative to develop a modern pollination planner for US blueberry growers.

191 - Jen Hayes - Natives v nativars for pollinators Sep 14, 2021

There has been an explosion of interest in using native plants for pollinators. Along with this interest there is the question of whether nativars - a natural variant that has been found in the wild and brought into cultivation - are equally beneficial to pollinators. This week we look into an ongoing research project asking this very question.

190 - Maxime Eeraerts - Sweet cherry pollination Aug 30, 2021

Bees are key pollinators of sweet cherry. This week we hear about research from Belgium on using other managed bee species to pollinate this crop (other than honey bees), the influence of encouraging pollinator habitat, as well as tips on keeping managed mason bees healthy and happy during cherry pollination.

189 - Spencer Leonard - Fable of the Bees (Part 2) Aug 25, 2021

One of the most influential books about bees has little to do with bees, but rather reflects on the nature of modern society. Bernard Mandeville (1670-1733) wrote and revised his “Fable of the Bees”, after publishing a poem in 1705 titled “The Grumbling Hive: or, Knaves Turn'd Honest”. The book is considered one the first pieces of modern sociology and was influential for revolutionaries lat

188 - Spencer Leonard - Fable of the Bees (Part 1) Aug 16, 2021

One of the most influential books about bees has little to do with bees, but rather reflects on the nature of modern society. Bernard Mandeville (1670-1733) wrote and revised his “Fable of the Bees”, after publishing a poem in 1705 titled “The Grumbling Hive: or, Knaves Turn'd Honest”. The book is considered one the first pieces of modern sociology and was influential for revolutionaries later in the 18th Century. We discuss the book as part of a two-part series.

187 - Mace Vaughn - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Pollinators Aug 02, 2021

Natural Resources Conservation Service has a range of programs to support the development of pollinator habitat in working lands. In this episode you’ll get an overview of NRCS programs, how landowners can access them and how, specifically, they can be used to improve habitat for pollinators.

186 - Dean Herzfeld - Where do pesticide applicators get their training? Jul 26, 2021

Pesticide applicators across the US needed to become certified and trained. In this episode we explore where this training requirement came from and how it applies to reducing exposure of pollinators to pesticides.

185 - Kathleen Law - Keeping Bees Safe During Blueberries Jul 13, 2021

Highbush blueberry is the largest pollinated crop in Oregon and one of the top crops in the US as a whole. Beekeepers report that their colonies can sometimes experience difficulties when pollinating this crop. In this episode we hear about how to keep bees healthy in blueberry production systems.

184 - Steve Javorek - Bee Habitat in Lowbush Blueberry Jun 23, 2021

Lowbush blueberry growers in Atlantic Canada have been increasing bee habitat around their fields by encouraging existing plant communities. In this episode we learn how they do this and the incredible bees that pollinate this crop.

183 - Pollinator Partnership - National Pollinator Week (and Beyond) Jun 14, 2021

With National Pollinator week next week, we caught up with staff at Pollinator Partnership (P2) to learn about what’s happening to celebrate the week, but also to catch up on growing P2 initiatives; Bee Friendly Farming and the Pollinator Stewards program.

182 - Miranda Jones - The Great Oregon Squash Bee Hunt Jun 08, 2021

Squash bees were never known to Oregon until a few years ago. This summer Oregonians may see the squash bee Peponapis pruinosa for the first time. Learn about these bees and how to track them in the state on this episode.

181- Jim Cane - Pollination of raspberries and other caneberries May 09, 2021

Raspberries are not nearly as difficult to pollinate as self-incompatible tree fruit or blueberries. But getting consistent fruit quality still requires finesse. In this episode we cover the pollination requirements of these berries, some of the bees that visit (and nest) in these crops and how to ensure a consistent level of pollination.

180- Glyn Stephens - Splitting your booming colonies May 02, 2021

Your honey bees have expanded many fold this spring. Now is the opportunity to split your colonies in half and get two colonies. In this episode we learn all the tricks associated with reliable and quick spring (and summer) and division of colonies.

179- Michael Branstetter - The deep history of the mason bees Apr 25, 2021

Mason bees in the subgenus Osmia emerged sometime before the ice-age, likely in Europe and Asia, but they radiated into North America early on in their history, resulting in one of the most beloved solitary bees, the blue orchard bee. In this episode, we dive into the evolutionary history of this subgenus.

178- Anna Ashby and Amber Reece - 10 beekeeping questions you were too afraid to ask Apr 18, 2021

Starting to keep bees can be overwhelming. To help you get started we have two Oregon Master Beekeepers answer the 10 most common questions that beginners ask.

177- Olivia Messinger Carril - A field guide to the common bees of North America? Apr 11, 2021

Michael O’Loughlin and his family farm a total of 200 acres in Yamhill County. The O'Loughlin Farms and garden is a private research station tracking onsite precipitation, testing slug biocontrol, and studying beetle predation and Northwestern garter and ringneck populations. Michael has been a Master Gardener since 2014 and Oregon Bee Atlas since 2018. Since then, he has mentored new Master Gardener students, participated on the Yamhill County Master Gardener insect committee, taught classes in entomology and garden pollinators, served as a local expert for garden beetle or herpetology questions, and contributed articles to the Master Gardener newsletter. He is also on the Advisory Committee of the Oregon Bee Atlas and leads up the mighty Yamhill County Atlas team. He has also designed, consulted on, and/or built nine school gardens across the state, including a pollinator garden at Mary Wood Elementary School in Tigard. In the six years that O’Loughlin has been a Master Gardener, he has accomplished a tremendous amount of work that benefits gardeners across the state. Although many people may be familiar with his work, many do not know that O’Loughlin is the force behind them, and in 2020 he was awarded the statewide Statewide Behind the Scenes Award for the Master Gardeners.

176- Fred Weisensee - The pollinator plants you need! Apr 04, 2021

With people either reving up to start or spruce up their pollinator garden, we sat down with a local nursery owner about some of the plants he most recommends for bloom across the year.

175 - Marie Vicksta and Michael O'Loughlin - Pollinator Habitat on County Roadsides Mar 28, 2021

This week we hear how Soil and Water Conservation Districts are working to establish cost-effective and pollinator habitat on County roadsides.

174 -Veronica Wignall - Whacking bees for science: Competitive exclusion between honey bees and bumblebees in the UK Mar 21, 2021

Honey bees and native social bees are important crop pollinators and key parts of healthy native plant ecology. However, it’s very difficult to examine how these groups of bees interact in the floral landscape. In this episode, we discuss competition between bumble bees and honey bees in an landscape where they are both native, the UK, to uncover what influences they have on each other and the floral resources they share.

173 - Jessica Rendon - Japanese beetle (is no friend of pollinators) Mar 14, 2021

Japanese beetle is a devastating exotic pest. Eradication efforts are underway across the US, including in Oregon. We hear about what is involved with eradication and how it can be done in a way that minimizes impacts to pollinators.

172 - Theresa Pitts-Singer - Where next for managed solitary bees Mar 07, 2021

Managed solitary bees have been a part of crop pollination in the Western US for decades, particularly in alfalfa seed production. But over the last decade, the use of these bees has expanded. We look at the recent expansion and where it might lead in this episode.

171 - Brittany Goodrich - How pollinator markets work Feb 28, 2021

Renting a honey bee colony for pollination seems simple enough, but frequently colonies are contracted months before pollination and a lot can go wrong from the time a contract is inked to when bees are delivered. In this episode we take a deep dive into the fascinating world of beekeepers, growers and pollination brokers.

170 - Halie Cousineau - School gardens and pollinators Feb 21, 2021

Gardens are increasingly appearing in schools. In this episode we learn about strategies to use these gardens to introduce pollinators into school curriculum.

169 - Al Shay - Moving your pollinator garden up a notch Feb 14, 2021

There is an almost inexhaustible amount of options for pollinator gardens. But this can not only be a cause for invigoration, but also confusion. This episode will set you straight on how to take your pollinator garden to the next level.

168 - Carolyn Breece and Ellen Topitzhofer - Late Winter Hive Management Feb 07, 2021

Carolyn Breece and Ellen Topitzhofer support the field research of the OSU Honey Bee Lab. Together they manage the lab’s 80 research and educational colonies, preparing them for experiments, and collecting data. They also teach classes and workshops to community beekeepers, OSU undergraduates, and Oregon Master Beekeeper participants.

167 - Linda Hardison - Oregon Flora… reloaded Jan 31, 2021

There have been two exciting developments with Oregon Flora. The first is vol 2 of the flora, which includes an amazing section on Oregon pollinators. The second is there new website, which allows you to do amazing searches for Oregon plant communities.

166 - Alison McAfee - Queens don’t like it too hot or cold Jan 24, 2021

Honey bee queens are durable insects, but new research shows that the sperm they store can become quickly degraded by temperature extremes.

165 - Zach Portman - When pan traps might not pan out (for bee surveys). Jan 17, 2021

Pan traps are one of the key methods for surveying for native bees. They are cheap and easy to use, and they aren’t subject to the collector bias of studies that rely on netting. This week we hear about the limitations associated with using pan traps.

164 - Chris Looney - Hornets and invasive bumble bees in Washington Jan 10, 2021

Washington contended with two invasive insects in 2020. The first is well-known, Asian Giant Hornet, but the second less so, the common eastern bumble bee. We caught up with the Washington Department of Agriculture for an update on both insects.

163 - Ian Tait - 2020 Year in Review Jan 03, 2021

It was hard to keep track of developments in bee health in 2020 because so much else was going on. In this episode we catch-you-up with a guest who wrote a post per day for since January showcasing what was new in bee health.

162 - Katie Buckley - Washington’s Pollinator Health Task Force Dec 06, 2020

The Washington State Legislature just received a set of ground-breaking recommendations on pollinator health from the state’s Pollinator Health Task Force. In this episode we hear about what is being recommended and the next steps towards addressing those recommendations.

161 - Kate LeCroy- Exotic Mason Bees Dec 02, 2020

Stem nesting bees like mason bees are particularly amenable to being introduced to distant lands. In this episode we hear about research looking into the impact of these introductions on native bee populations.

160 - Jim Cane - Bees and fire Nov 22, 2020

Devastating wildfires ravaged Western states this summer. In this episode we find out what is known about the effect of forest fires on bees, how bees respond to the land ravaged by fire and how you can help bees while also protecting your property from future fires.

159 - Jamie Ellis - Turning the corner with varroa? Nov 15, 2020

US beekeepers have been struggling to manage varroa mites for over 30 years. Our guest discusses why a solution to varroa has been so elusive and what it would take to finally turn the corner with varroa over the next decade.

158 - Kara Maddox - Pollinators for the Masses Nov 08, 2020

In this episode we learn about an initiative in Texas that engages thousands of families in education around pollinators, headed by the National Pesticide Safety Education Center (NPSEC) and Prairie View A&M University.

157 - Katie Arstingstall - Bees collect pollen from more plants than you think Oct 18, 2020

We have a very dim picture of the flowers bees collect pollen from. In this episode we hear about how lab techniques can be combined with field records of plant occurrences to show that bees may be using a lot more sources of pollen than we once thought.

156 - Shelley Hoover - Preparing hives for winter Oct 11, 2020

The highest period of honey bee colony mortality is during the winter. But there are a number of tricks to ensure high colony survival. In this episode we visit a Canadian bee yard to learn about what they do.

155 - Brian Speisman - Bee Machine Sep 27, 2020

Identifying bees is notoriously difficult and often is an obstacle to beginners interested in contributing to native bee surveys. In this episode we learn about a new initiative to identify bees with machine learning.

Episode 154 - Josh Vlach - Invasive pests and pollinators Sep 20, 2020

We have all heard about Asian Giant Hornet, but what are some of the other invasive pests that threaten pollinators? We hear about species of concern in Oregon as well as measures taken to prevent their introduction.

153 - Miles Dakin - Bee Friendly Farming Sep 13, 2020

Pollinator Partnership’s Bee Friendly Farming programs encourages and rewards growers for taking steps to improve pollinator health on farms. We hear about some new features of the program and how people can get involved.

152 - August Jackson - The Steens Mountains Sep 06, 2020

151 - Sarah Peebles - Resonating Bodies Aug 30, 2020

Native bees have secret and mysterious lives. Beyond their visits to flowers, they spend most of their lives beyond our experience. This week we hear from a sound artist whose work places us deep in the lives of our native bees.

150 - Master Melittologists Aug 23, 2020

The OSU Pollinator Health Program and Oregon Bee Project have worked together to develop a first of a kind Extension certificate program, the Master Melittologist program. The program is designed for people passionate about native bees and who want to embark on the long term survey of these bees in the state.

149 - Caydee Savinelli - BeSure Aug 16, 2020

Growers and applicators learn about pollinator health from a wide range of sources. In this episode we hear about an initiative by a coalition led by industry groups to reduce pesticide exposure to pollinators.

148 - John Ascher - 10 Oregon Bees Aug 09, 2020

There is some great information being collected about Oregon bees by non-experts use phone apps like iNaturalist. In this episode we hear about how to produce a solid record and some of the top 10 bees people are finding.

147 - Christina Groziner - BeeScape Aug 02, 2020

Do you ever wonder how good the area around you is for pollinators? This week we learn about a new tool that allows you to assess your landscape for flower resources, bee nesting habitat and aggregate pesticide use.

146 - Shelby Kilpatrick - Checklist of Pennsylvania Bees Jul 26, 2020

How do you figure out what bees are in a state, both in the present and historically. You build a checklist! In this episode we learn about how checklists are made from a recent effort in Pennsylvania.

145 - Native Bee Society of British Columbia - Connecting bee enthusiasts together Jul 19, 2020

There are a growing number of people interested in native bees, but not many regional organizations you can belong to. Today we hear about an example of building such organizations in the Canadian province of British Columbia.

144 - Mike Burgett - The “other” honey bees Jul 12, 2020

The common European honey bee is not the only species of honey bee. The biodiversity of the species Apis is rich in SE Asia. In this episode we get to know each of the species in detail.

143 - Hailey Wallace - What makes a bee garden tick? Jul 05, 2020

Bee gardens involve matching plants that bloom at different times, to bees that emerge at different times. And not all bee species go to all flowers. In this episode we hear about how all these factors come together in Portland gardens.

142 Megan Asche - Social Wasps Jun 28, 2020

Social wasps are in the news these days. They are often confused with bees. This week we take a deep dive into the world of our most fascinating social wasps, the paper wasps.

141 - Neil Bell - The best pollinator shrubs and trees Jun 21, 2020

Shrubs and trees are key to any landscape designed for pollinators. This episode we tap OSU’s shrub and tree expert to list the top picks for spring, summer and winter and to learn how to care for them.

140 Rebecca Sweet - Pollinator cover crops in vineyards Jun 14, 2020

Creating pollinator habitat on farms is not as simple as it sounds. To be successful the habitat has to integrate into the cropping system and have low establishment and maintenance costs. In this episode we hear about efforts to strike this balance in Oregon vineyards.

139 Jay Evans - Beeoptimism: Reflections on the advances in bee research Jun 09, 2020

It’s been over 10 years since Colony Collapse Disorder beset the beekeeping industry. We catch up with an author who looks back at the advances made over this period with a sense of Beeoptimism.

138 Ron Spendal - The secret lives of mason bees May 31, 2020

We’ve all heard that mason bees are amazing backyard pollinators, but did you know you can make ground-making discoveries about these bee’s biology in your own backyard. This week we talk with a Master Gardener who has turned mason bees into a scientific and public outreach pursuit.

137 John Ascher - The problem with measuring bee decline May 25, 2020

How are wild bees doing? On one hand we hear that they are in trouble and on the other we hear that surveying efforts are too small to detect differences. In this episode we explore issues associated with native bee survey with one of the world's leading native bee taxonomists.

136 Mandy Shaw - Bee Entrepreneurship May 17, 2020

The intense interest in beekeeping has created a new wave of beekeeping businesses. In this episode we hear about how these businesses are meeting the needs of a new generation of beekeepers.

135 Suzie Savoie - Spring native pollinator plants May 10, 2020

Southern Oregon has some of the most amazing pollinator species, in large part because of the unique native plant communities. In this episode we learn about the best spring blooming plants for pollinators and how to grow them.

134 Jim Cane - Spring Bees Apr 29, 2020

You are probably familiar with familiar spring bees like bumble bees and mason bees. In this episode we take a deep dive into the biology and ecology of these bees, as well as some of the weirder spring bee species. We also look into what you can plant to encourage these bees.

133 Kim Patten - Pollinator habitat on working farms Apr 18, 2020

Putting habitat into a working farm involves juggling operational constraints and pollinator biology. In this episode we hear about an innovative example of how PNW cranberry growers are attracting and boosting bee populations around their bogs.

132 - Meghan Milbrath - European Foulbrood Mar 31, 2020

What is infectious, poorly understand and set to ramp up during the months of April and May? The honey bee disease European foulbrood has been a tremendous problem in Oregon over the last few springs. This week we hear the latest on research and management options for this disease.

131 - Megan O'Rourke - Pasture for beef... and bees? Mar 23, 2020

Livestock grazing can be very expansive. Take for instance the 'fescue belt' in the southeastern US, which spans 1,000 miles across. This week we hear from a researcher who is looking to incorporate pollinator plants into pastures, potentially providing benefits to pollinators and increasing the grazing efficiency of cattle at the same time.

130 - Carolyn Breece - Should you keep bees? Mar 02, 2020

There has been an explosion in people keeping bees for a hobby. But for many, beekeeping is a bigger commitment than they expected. This week we'll help you figure out if beekeeping for you and what's involved in getting started.

129 - Ron Bitner - Vineyards for Pollinators Feb 26, 2020

Idaho and Oregon's Treasure Valley have a deep connection to bee management for alfalfa seed, but in this episode we hear about how that tradition is being transferred to pollinator management in vineyards.

128 – Serkan Ates – Livestock forage plants and bees Feb 16, 2020

Some of the best plants for long-tongued bees like bumble bees and honey bees are grown for livestock. We dive deep into these livestock plants and discuss how they can be incorporated into a dual use system that feeds both livestock and bees.

127 – Kirsten Traynor – 2 Million Blossoms Feb 08, 2020

There is nothing about browsing though a magazine. There are some great beekeeping magazines, but what's missing is a magazine devoted to pollinators more broadly. Enter 2 Million Blossoms, a new magazine launched in January. We talk to the editor about the magazine and how it aims to fill this gap.

126 – Casey Hale – Bees that are parasites on other bees Jan 27, 2020

When you think of a bee you probably think of an insect hard at work growing its nest and pollinating plants. But over 10% of bees are kleptoparasites; bees that don't build their own nests, but are parasites on other bees. In this episode we learn the fundamentals of this highly-evolved and sophisticated way of living.

125 – Lila Westreich – The Secret Life of Mason Bees Jan 20, 2020

Many of us put mason bees out in our backyard or farm. But when they leave the nest, do you know where they are going to forage? In this episode we hear how a sleuthing graduate student in Seattle is beginning to piece together a picture of what resources these bees are actually using.

124 – Lauren Ponisio – Pollinator Hedgerows Jan 13, 2020

Hedgerows can be great ways to attract pollinators in agriculture and forestry settings. But how can such relatively small plantings impact pollinator abundance and diversity on larger scales? This week we dig deep into the science of how hedgerows contribute to pollinator health.

123 – Megan Swanson – Bees in the Classroom Jan 06, 2020

Literacy on pollinator biology and ecology in the US is poor. But schools can be skittish about insects, especially bees, and teachers lack resources to make pollinator education come alive. This week we hear about an initiative that to get around these obstacles - The Bee Cause Project.

122 – The End of 2019 Show Dec 22, 2019

What happened in 2019 when it came to Apiculture? We visit the Apiculture unit at Agriculture and Forestry Alberta in Lethbridge to find out. Hear about highlights from Apimonida, the introduction of an Asian giant hornet in Washington and BC and problems beekeepers have been having with European foulbrood.

121 – Weston Miller – Solving Pest Problems Dec 16, 2019

People living in cities are confronted by a range of pest problems, some of which impact pollinator health. This week we hear about an initiative to make science-based information on managing these pests clearer, more intuitive and easy to find.

120 – Claire Kremen and Corin Pease – New to the PNW Dec 09, 2019

The Pacific Northwest got not just one, but two great pollinator positions in 2019. Claire Kremen has moved her lab from Berkeley to the University of British Columbia and Corin Pease is the new regional Pollinator Conservation Planner at Xerces. In this show we hear about these new programs and what they have planned for 2020.

119 – MR Pollination – Alfalfa leafcutter bees Dec 02, 2019

Alfalfa leafcutting bees don't get the attention of honey bees, but they are also a remarkable example of how people have learned to manage a bee species. It's often hard to get details about this industry, but this week we bring you one of the industry's gurus - Weldon Hobbs - whose dad helped found the industry in Western Canada.

118 - Rich Hatfield - Queen Quest Nov 25, 2019

Oregon's bumble bees are all hibernating. Mated bumble bee queen are known to winter in loose soil or leaf litter, but we don't know much more than that. This week we talk with Rich Hatfield, a biologist at the Xerces Society, about a new community science initiative called Queen Quest, to learn more about the wintering requirements of bumble bees.

117 - Gregory Lynch - Miel Montréal Co-op Nov 19, 2019

Ever heard the term "native beekeeper" before? Me neither, until I talked with Gregory Lynch from the Miel Montréal Co-op. In this episode he explains how the Co-op has developed a wide range of educational services that goes beyond (honey bee) beekeeping, to promoting native bees and urban biodiversity more generally.

116 - Highlights from Apimondia 2019 Nov 11, 2019

In this episode we take a stroll through the tradeshow at the world's largest beekeeping conference, Apimondia, which was held in Montreal, Canada in September. In this episode you'll hear about a machine that can turn 1000lbs of liquid honey into velvety-creamed honey, the latest in varroa control, styrofoam hive equipment and tips on how to re-use plastic foundation.

115 - Robert Marshall - Roadside pollinator habitat Nov 04, 2019

Roads crisis-cross the state of Oregon, making roadsides an appealing focus for creating an interconnected network of pollinator habitat. But roadside habitat has to fit within the constraints faced by Departments of Transportation. In this episode we hear about some of those constraints and successes achieved in Oregon by ODOT.

114 - John Jacob - Solar panels and pollinator habitat Oct 14, 2019

There is a lot of ground under solar panels that could be planted to pollinator habitat. In this episode guest host Maggie Graham talks with John Jacob, a Southern Oregon beekeeper who has been working with a solar panel company to get pollinator habitat into new panel installations in Oregon.

113 - Kass Urban-Mead - Bees in trees? Oct 07, 2019

How important are trees to the health of bees? In many cases we don't know because trees are a lot bigger than us. That doesn't stop our next guest from scaling into the canopy for her research. This week we feature PhD Candidate Kass Urban-Mead.

112 - Bob Curtis - Improving bee health during pollination Sep 30, 2019

Pollinating crops can be difficult on honey bees. Since 2014, the California Almond Board has been working with beekeepers, pest control advisors and groups like Project ApisM to come up with standards (Best Management Practices, BMPs) to increase the health of bees in California Almonds. This week we talk with former Director, Agricultural Affairs, Almond Board of California (ABC), Bob Curtis, about how the BMPs were developed and how effective they have been to help bees during pollination.

111 - August Jackson - Bees of the Willamette Valley Sep 16, 2019

Learning the bees of your local area can be a daunting task. Most guides and keys, for example, include bees that don't even exist where you live, and are packed with hard-to-understand terminology. This week we talk to August Jackson, who has come up with a solution - a concise guide to the bees of the Willamette Valley.

110 - International Pollinator Conference Highlights (2019) Sep 02, 2019

The Fourth International Pollinator Conference was held in Davis, CA. In this episode you will hear about some of the interesting new research happening on pollinator health from around the world.

109 - Shelley Hoover - Its all in the queen Aug 26, 2019

Honey bee queen quality is an often overlooked dimension of colony health. In this episode we catch up with Dr. Shelley Hoover who is the Apiculture Researcher with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. She tells us about work to assess different commercial queen stocks and to fit queen production into crop pollination.

108 - Rosalyn Johnson - Bio-diverse and drought-tolerant gardens Aug 18, 2019

In this episode we talk with Dr. Rosalyn Johnson from Yardbio.com about how to establish local, native, and drought-tolerant species in backyards to support pollinators and wildlife.

107 - Bryan Danforth - The Solitary Bees Aug 12, 2019

Although solitary bees make up the bulk of bee diversity, there hasn't been a comprehensive biology book about them. That is until now. This week we catch up with Dr. Bryan Danforth about his new book, The Solitary Bee, authored along with Frances Fawcett, John Neff, and Robert Minckley.

106 - Jim Cane - Squash and Sunflower Bees Aug 04, 2019

Squash bees were discovered in Oregon last year. This week we talk to Dr. Jim Cane about this bee, as well as a bee that is widespread in Oregon gardens, the sunflower bee.

105 - Tyson Wepprich - Insect Apocalypse? Jul 29, 2019

There has been a lot of attention lately to historic declines of insect abundance across the world. This week we catch up with Tyson Wepprich who recently reported on butterfly abundance declines in Ohio over the past 20 years.

104 - Bonnie Shoffner - The finer points of pollinator outreach Jul 22, 2019

Public outreach may seem simple, but impactful and effective outreach is an art. Bonnie Shoffner from Portland Metro is a real pro at pulling off pollinator outreach events and this week she shares here secrets for success.

103 - Rachel Mallinger - Bees in blueberries, forests and gardens (in Florida) Jul 15, 2019

Oregon and Florida may seem miles apart, but the role of bees in both states has remarkable parallels. This week Dr. Rachel Mallinger University of Florida talks about blueberry pollination, bees in forest systems and interests of gardeners around bees in the Sunshine State.

102 - Jacob Pecenka - Watermelons, pests and pollination Jul 01, 2019

Watermelons are hard to pollinate. But they can also experience reduced yield from pest damage. This week we hear from Jacob Pecenka who tells us about the trade-offs from managing pests and loosing pollination and how Integrated Pest Management can provide an excellent way to navigate these trade-offs.

101 - Sharon Selvaggio - Labeling Pollinator Plants Jun 17, 2019

There has been a lot of demand for nursery plants that are good for pollinators, but also confusion on whether these plants have been grown using practices that minimize impacts to pollinators. This week we hear from Sharon Selvaggio, Program Director at Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP), about a pilot study to see what consumers respond to when labeling pollinator plants around the practices they were grown under.

100 - THE Everything-You-wanted-to-know-about-pollinators-but-were-afraid- to-ask SHOW Jun 10, 2019

For the 100th Episode of PolliNation we assembled our crack team of OSU pollinator faculty together to answer your burning questions.

99 – Adam Allington – The Business of Bees Jun 04, 2019

Commercial bee pollination is an integral part of food production in the US. In this episode we catch up with Adam Allington, a reporter with Bloomberg Environment, about a new podcast "The Business of Bees" that explores how the food system has evolved to become dependent on bees, and the future consequences of this dependency.

98 – Bob Falconer – Backyard Pollinator Strips Made Easy May 27, 2019

Pollinator strips are exceedingly tricky to establish. This week we drop by Washington County Master Gardener and Master Beekeeper Bob Falconer’s house to see how he establish magnificent strips of Phacelia and clover.

97 Hannah Levenson - Regional bee communities (and the plants they like) May 20, 2019

Not all bee communities across a region might use the same flowers. But how might gardeners be better informed about what local bees like? Also, do regional bee communities confront different disease pressures. Hear how Hannah Levenson is addressing these issues in a project taking place at North Carolina State University.

96 Mia Park - Urban Prairie Restoration for Bees May 13, 2019

How do you measure the success of restoration projects for bees? Dr. Mia Park from North Dakota State University catches us up on work she is doing around urban prairie restoration.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/05/13/mia-park

95 Lincoln Best - The Oregon Bee Atlas Apr 29, 2019

Listen in to learn the role of the Oregon Bee Atlas, how it has grown in only a year, and which plants are best for pollinator biodiversity in Oregon.

"It's easy to document common species; it's really difficult to assess the extreme biodiversity that exists here." - Lincoln Best.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/04/29/oregon-bee-atlas

94 Aaron Anderson - Which Native Plants Are Best For In Your Garden For Oregon Bees? Apr 15, 2019

Listen in to learn what native plants are best for your garden, both for increasing the health of local pollinators and adding beauty to your garden.

"There have been very few studies that have been done on the relative attractiveness of different plants to pollinators, especially in a garden-type setting." - Aaron Anderson.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/04/15/aaron-anderson #fpshows

93 Dr. Elina L Niño - Pollinating California Almonds Apr 08, 2019

Listen in to learn how growers can improve their pollinator effectiveness, the benefits of certain overwintering solutions, and the key to great queens.

"I know there's a lot of talk about letting natural selection do it's thing, but we have to think about what we're doing. When we put the bee colony into a hive, it's no longer considered to be, in my mind, natural. So I think they definitely need some help." - Dr. Elina L Niño.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/04/08/dr-elina-l-nino/

92 Jim Cane - The Weird And Wonderful World of Alfalfa Pollination Apr 01, 2019

Listen in to learn about the two key pollinators of alfalfa seed: the alfalfa leafcutter bee and alkali bee.

"If [alfalfa] bloomed in the spring, there would not be enough hours in the day for a female bee to complete a nest cell for one offspring." – Jim Cane.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/04/01/jim-cane/

91 Pierre Lau - The Everything-You-Wanted-To-Know-About-Pollen Episode Mar 25, 2019

Listen in to learn all about pollen: how to collect and identify it, how it can be used in forensics, and the tools that researchers have developed to source it from particular plants.

“The fun thing about pollen and why palynology is a thing is that every species of plant will produce a unique pollen grain to that species. We can play CSI and forensics here: when you look at the pollen that honey bees collect, you can trace it back to the plant that they were actually visiting.” – Pierre Lau.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/03/25/pierre-lau/

90 Dr. Casey Delphia - The Bees of Montana Mar 18, 2019

Listen in to learn about Dr. Delphia's bee atlas projects, why Montana is a "black hole" of bee data, and where to find the coolest native bees of Montana.

“It’s really great to be working on bees in Montana and it’s also not so great. It’s great because there are so many things to discover and it’s also not so great because there are so many things to discover.” – Dr. Casey Delphia.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/03/18/dr-casey-delphia/

89 Kim Flottum - The Venerable Tradition of Getting the Word Out About Bees Mar 11, 2019

Learn how Kim Flottum is taking beekeeping education into the future, and how he is following in legendary beekeeping educator Amos Root's footsteps.

"We have gone from pencil-writing answers to letters, to the electronic age, and it has opened the door to anybody and everybody who wants to talk about anything." - Kim Flottum.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/03/11/kim-flottum/

88 Rebecca Perry and Grace Cope - The Benefits of Golf Course Flower Patches Depends on Course Management Mar 04, 2019

Listen in to learn how golf courses can better serve pollinators and their habitats through curating their plants, flowers, and maintenance schedule.

"Golf courses are these really unique islands of vegetation within these urban lands." - Rebecca Perry.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/03/04/rebecca-perry-and-grace-cope/

87 Steve Peterson - How To Make Mason Bees Thrive? Feb 25, 2019

Listen in to learn Steve's experience in making and maintaining mason bee nesting blocks, and why he advocates using a wood laminate in its construction.

"I've always been interested in that you can raise these bees and sort of have a lower input in terms of having to put them into cold storage so soon." - Steve Peterson.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/02/25/steve-peterson/

86 Dr. Priyadarshini Chakrabarti - The Secret Life of Bee Nutrition Feb 18, 2019

Listen in to learn the importance of sterols in honeybee health, why they are so important, and the research Dr. Priyadarshini Chakrabarti has done on them.

"[Sterols] are building blocks of cellular membranes. That is why we are trying to focus on them, because without these sterols, you would basically have a dead bee." - Dr. Priyadarshini Chakrabarti.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/02/18/dr-priyadarshini-chakrabarti/

85 Lynda Boyer - Producing Native Plants For Bees Feb 04, 2019

Listen in to learn how Heritage Seedlings aids in restoration sites and pollinator health as a Flagship Farm, and the best native plants for your garden.

"We have around 560 native prairie plant species, and the majority of them also have pollinator species that utilize both for flowering resources and for cover." - Lynda Boyer.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/02/04/lynda-boyer/

84 Kathleen Baughman - Nurseries and Pollinators Jan 28, 2019

Learn how Iwasaki Bros. has reduced their environmental impact through Integrated Pest Management (IPM), bee monitoring, and the flagship farm program.

"The Iwasaki's have always been interested in sustainability, so [becoming a flagship farm] was something that came very natural to them." - Kathleen Baughman.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/01/28/kathleen-baughman/

83 Harry Vanderpool - Talking to Pesticide Applicators About Bees Jan 21, 2019

Listen in to learn Harry's effective communication methods, how he builds bridges with others in agriculture, and what he's done for pollinators in the PNW.

"We're really all working hard and trying to make a living at the same time, and working together is the answer to that." - Harry Vanderpool.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/01/21/harry-vanderpool/

82 Sarah Kincaid - Promoting Bee-Friendly Farming Jan 14, 2019

Listen in to learn how Sarah and the Flagship Farms program work with farmers to create sustainable ecosystems for pollinators, and how you can participate.

"We're a specialty crop state and many of those depend on pollination, and if they depend on pollination, that means they provide a resource for the bees themselves." - Sarah Kincaid.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PolliNation-82

81 Dr. Valerie Peters - Climate Change, Pollinators and Coffee Jan 07, 2019

Listen in to learn the intersection between changing tropical climates, pollinator habitats, and the coffee crop, and the impact of mines on pollinators.

"For a lot of species, we don't know if they'll be able to successfully move fast enough northward, so the other potential could be that we would just see loss of species in a particular location or maybe declining pollinator population numbers." - Dr. Valerie Peters.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2019/01/07/dr-valerie-peters/

80 Dr. Christina Mogren - Bees in Hawaii Dec 31, 2018

Listen in to learn the relationship of pollinators with native flora and fauna of Hawaii, and what is being done to aid local agriculture and beekeeping.

"A lot of the plants [in Hawaii] evolved with bird and beetle pollinators, there's only one native genus of bee." - Dr. Christina Mogren.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2018/12/31/dr-christina-mogren/

79 Robyn Shephard - Hybrid Vegetable Seed Pollination Dec 24, 2018

Listen in to today's episode to learn how hybrid systems work and the steps vegetable seed growers are taking to keep bees healthy during pollination.

"It's a labor intensive crop, especially if you're doing it transplanted." - Robyn Shephard.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2018/12/24/robyn-shephard/

78 Emily Erickson - Breeding and The Attractiveness of Garden Plants Dec 17, 2018

Emily Erickson talks about the role of garden plants in bee conservation and how plant breeding may be changing the attractiveness of garden plants to bees.

"This [data] gives us a really cool system where we can isolate these single traits in the context of the whole flower. So we can keep everything else consistent and then ask, 'what if it was red instead of orange? Does that matter?'." - Emily Erickson.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2018/12/13/emily-erickson/

77 David Cantlin - More Clover In Your Turf? Lessons from the City of Fife Dec 10, 2018

In this episode, we hear about the City of Fife’s initiative to increase the amount of blooming clover available to bees on their city properties.

"Clover attracts bees and other pollinators, so it benefits the ecology of the area." - David Cantlin.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2018/12/10/david-cantlin/

76 Dr. Chelsea Cook - Honey Bee Scouting and the Virtues of Being Easily Distracted Dec 03, 2018

Listen in to learn how different bees divide up the responsibilities of finding and gathering food, and why they developed this method of foraging.

"I can only imagine if in my neighborhood, every couple of days the grocery store closed and popped up somewhere else. How would you deal with that?" - Dr. Chelsea Cook.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2018/12/02/dr-chelsea-cook/

75 Amy Cox - Eco-lawns and Pollinators Nov 26, 2018

Listen in to learn more about eco-lawns, what brought Amy into this business, and what makes eco-lawns ideal for all different kinds of home owners.

"I think I've always wanted to something that helped other people, and that's turned into something that can not only help people, but animals, insects, and the environment." - Amy Cox.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2018/11/26/amy-cox/

74 Lila Westreich - Mason Bees and Landscapes Nov 19, 2018

Listen in to learn more about what drew Lila to Osmia lignaria, and how she is finding the effect of these bees on their landscape, and vice versa.

"[Osmia] are really easy to work with, they're easy to buy, which is rare for a native bee source, and they're really easy systems to put in different places, so it was almost easier [for me to get into] than bumblebees." - Lila Westreich.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/pollinationpodcast/2018/11/19/lila-westreich/

73 Research Retinue - Is Glyphosate Harmful To Bees? Nov 12, 2018

Learn more about the recent research studying the effects of glyphosate on honeybees, and how glyphosate can indirectly affect their gut homogenate.

"Those lactobacillus bacteria are supposed to not be sensitive to the glyphosate, so it's weird that the single dose would affect them, but when there's a double dose, there seems to be no change." - Addision DeBoer.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PolliNation-73

72 Garth Mulkey - Specialty seeds and bees Nov 05, 2018

Listen in to learn how Garth Mulkey helped develop the bee protection protocol for specialty seed growers, and why specialty seed growers need bees.

"[The bees] are even more critical in our hybrid productions, because the females in this production do not produce their own pollen, so if we don't have bees, we don't harvest seed." - Garth Mulkey

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PolliNation-72

71 Courtney MacInnis and Dr. Steve Pernal - Honey Bee Nosema Disease: An Old Disease With New Twists Oct 22, 2018

Listen in to learn how the small fungus Nosema affects bee colonies, how and where it thrives, and what is being done to stop it in the research community.

“Nosema is kind of a tough nut to crack. There have been many people besides ourselves that have worked on alternative treatements to Nosema over the years and have largely proved unsuccessful.” - Dr. Steve Pernal

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-MacInnis-and-Pernal

70 Dr. Sara Galbraith - Measuring success: mason bees as an indicator of forest management quality Oct 15, 2018

Listen in to learn how forests are managed, how it affects pollinator habitat, and how bioassays gather essential insights into improving pollinator health.

“Out West in general, and especially in places like Oregon, because so much of our land has potential pollinator habitat, and if we manage it properly, I think we could really support pollinators like wild bees.” - Dr. Sara Galbraith.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Dr-Sara-Galbraith

69 Michelle Flenniken - Bee viruses Oct 08, 2018

Listen in to learn how viruses affect pollinators, how virologists study them, and which ways beekeepers can best protect their colonies from infection.

“When you think about a bee colony, it's a great place for viral infections. They're really crowded, if you think of honeybees, there's over 40,000 individuals crawling all over each other.” - Michelle Flenniken.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Michelle-Flenniken

68 Project Apis m. - Enhancing the Health of Honey Bees Through Research and Education Sep 24, 2018

Listen in to learn how Project Apis m. has accomplished sustained valuable research for both pollinators and the agriculture and beekeeping industries.

“What it takes to make the change on the ground is to show and prove what is happening, and then outreach to educate on the alternatives, and change those practices.” - Danielle Downey.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Project-Apis-M

67 Rich Hatfield - PNW Bumble Bee Atlas Sep 17, 2018

Listen in to today's episode to learn how the PNW Bumble Bee Atlas is aiding in bee conservation, and how you can participate in pollinator habitat surveys.

“I can tell you from the response that we've had that people are pretty excited. They've been having a really good time doing this. I love it, too, and it's good to know that other people can join you on this.” - Rich Hatfield.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Rich-Hatfield

66 Dr. Sarah Lawson - The small carpenter bee and their Cinderella daughters Aug 27, 2018

In this episode, we learn about the life cycle of Ceratina, and its peculiar strategy of turning the firstborn female into the a nursemaid of the nest.

“We like to think of [Ceratina] as a bee on the brink of sociality.” - Dr. Sarah Lawson.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Dr-Sarah-Lawson

65 Robert Coffin and Josh Loy - Teeing off with Monarch Butterflies Aug 20, 2018

In this episode, we learn how to create certified monarch waystations, and how Stewart Meadows integrated the monarch waystations into their golf course.

“We want to put in more of these monarch waystations and pollinator habitats. To me, that is a wonderful next step, not only for the golf course, but for all the monarchs and our entire community.” - Robert Coffin.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Coffin-Loy

64 Mike Rodia - Residential Beekeeping and the Law Aug 13, 2018

Listen in as we talk about residential beekeeping, and the ways you can work with your local government to keep your local hives nuisance-free.

“Residential beekeeping didn't really exist 30 or 40 years ago, so the cities have had to address it as problems have come up, so each [city] will vary each time it comes up with a problem.” - Mike Rodia.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Mike-Rodia

63 Lori Weidenhammer - Victory Gardens for Bees Aug 06, 2018

Listen in to learn more about victory gardens, the cultural importance of bees over time, and how artists and scientists work together to educate the world.

“If you want to grow food to feed yourself, you also need to feed the bees. We need to feed the bees.” - Lori Weidenhammer.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Lori-Weidenhammer

62 Sam Droege and the Bee School Jul 30, 2018

Listen in to learn more about how to plant a garden for pollinators using non-native plants, and the complexities of pollinator research in the field.

“The bigger picture I focus on is to emphasize that [we all] have a role to play in the saving of bees, and that it's not really an issue about Monsanto or chemical companies or some far off entity.” - Sam Droege.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Sam-Droege

61 Dale Mitchell - Oregon’s pesticide incidence reporting system Jul 23, 2018

Listen in to this episode to learn how the Department of Agriculture handles suspected pesticide-related bee incidents, and what they do to prevent them.

“I would like to encourage any citizens within the state of Oregon to report any suspected bee related incident. That information is valuable to the department and others involved in evaluating pollinator health.” - Dale Mitchell.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Dale-Mitchell

60 Dr. Bob Peterson - Alfalfa leafcutting bees and mosquitos. Jul 16, 2018

Listen in to today's episode to learn about the uniqueness of leafcutting bees, how they're managed, and how to keep your bees safe in using pesticides.

“When you look at an alfalfa field, if it has what looks like little metal or wooden sheds in the field, that's where hundreds and hundreds of thousands of leafcutting bees are doing their jobs.” - Dr. Bob Peterson.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Dr-Bob-Peterson

59 Dr. Hollis Woodard - Bees in dynamic and extreme environments Jul 09, 2018

Listen in to today's episode to learn about the bees that evolved in vastly different climates, and why Dr. Woodard's lab studies the way they have adapted.

“In the bumblebee lineage, they have been social for so long now, that it's really difficult, in fact impossible, to definitively answer the question of why they evolved socially.” - Dr. Hollis Woodard.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Dr-Hollis-Woodard

58 Pollinators and their People: The voices of Oregon Pollinator Week 2018 Jul 02, 2018

Listen in to this special episode to learn how young students can learn about pollinator science and health, and the way education is changing young minds.

“It's so cool to see so many kids out here checking out pollinators, and how sophisticated they are and how they really do know a lot about these insects already.” - Nicole Sanchez.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-OPW-2018

57 Drs. Margaret Couvillon and Roger Schürch - Measuring bee habitat quality through honey bee dances Jun 25, 2018

Listen to today's episode to find out what we can learn from bee dances, and how home gardeners can make a difference creating their own pollinator habitat.

“The hypothesis would be that the hotspots the honeybees have indicated are good or bad will map very nicely with areas that either support abundant and diverse native bee communities and bumblebee colonies, or places and times that are hard for them.” - Dr. Margaret Couvillon.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Drs-Couvillon-and-Schurch

56 Dr. Ramesh Sagili - How to make a lot of honey this year! Jun 18, 2018

On today's episode, learn how to keep your bees healthy and productive, what is most important in maintaining your bees, and how to prevent varroa mites.

“Close to 50% of the nectar that [honeybees] bring in around the year is from blackberries.” - Dr. Ramesh Sagili.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Dr-Ramesh-Sagili

55 Mimi Jenkins - Watermelon Pollination: How native bees affect watermelon crops Jun 04, 2018

Listen in to learn about Mimi's work studying the pollination of watermelon, and how farmers can improve their crop through cultivating pollinator systems.

“Watermelon is one of those crops that is entirely dependent on pollinators in order to set fruit.” - Mimi Jenkins.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Mimi-Jenkins

54 Ron Miksha - Crop Pollination: Past, Present and Future May 28, 2018

Listen in to learn the evolution of migratory beekeepers since the 1970's, and why Ron believes that our current pollination system isn't sustainable.

“We can do more with fewer acres by using the honeybees, and they're being provided by commercial beekeepers.” - Ron Miksha.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Ron-Miksha

53 Kelly Rourke - National Pollinator Week May 21, 2018

Listen in to learn about National Pollinator Week, how the Pollinator Partnership helps the world's pollinator populations, and how you can take part.

“Protect their lives, preserve ours.” - Kelly Rourke.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Kelly-Rourke

52 OSU Research Retinue - Mowing or mowing less: What helps the bees more? May 15, 2018

Listen in to learn about how the ways that we maintain our lawns can help or hinder the abundance and diversity of bees, and affect pollinator health.

“There are so many variables when you're considering lawns, like how big the lawn is, or where it is, and this study did an amazing job of trying to factor in all of the characteristics.” - Addison DeBoer.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Research-Retinue-Lawns

51 Heather Higo - Rearing your Own Queens May 07, 2018

Listen in to learn more about how you can get started rearing your own queens, the many facets of it's preparation, and Heather's tips in getting started.

“Colonies aren't going to rear queens for you unless they're absolutely bursting with bees, and you won't be able to rear good quality queens unless there's a really high level of nutrition in that colony.” - Heather Higo.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Heather-Higo

50 Lincoln Best - Taxonomy with The Oregon Bee Atlas Apr 30, 2018

Listen in to learn about Lincoln Best's manifesto for native bees and plant communities, and his best practices for volunteers in the Oregon Bee Atlas.

“A lot of our environmental issues are landscape issues. So in order to have a healthy landscape, we need to know how to manage places and also restore them.” - Lincoln Best.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Lincoln-Best

49 A $7 million investment in pollinator health by the Foundation for Food and Agricultural Research (FFAR) Apr 23, 2018

Listen in to today's episode to learn more about FFAR, the work FFAR is doing to help pollinator research, and how they are helping citizen scientists.

“We consider the topic of pollinators and pollinator health to be vital to agriculture and to the success of the United States’s agriculture.” - Sally Rockey.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-FFAR

48 Travis Owen - The Amateur Anthecologist Apr 16, 2018

Listen in to learn more about the science of anthecology, how you can develop resources for pollinators, and what makes the honeybee unique to other bees.

“I was really excited to share what I saw. I feel really passionate about it, and I want other people to be passionate about it, too.” - Travis Owen.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Travis-Owen

47 Briana Ezray - Mullerian mimicry and why telling bumble bee species apart by color can be hard. Apr 09, 2018

Listen in to this episode to learn more about Mullerian mimicry, it's role in the evolution of bumblebees, and why it is the subject of Briana's research.

“Depending on where you are, you might have the same species with completely different color patterns, and this is fairly common in Oregon.“ - Briana Ezray.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Briana-Ezray

46 A Well-Curated Bee In A Museum Is Worth A Thousand Pictures Mar 26, 2018

Listen in to learn the role of a museum in biodiversity and pollinator research, how citizen scientists can help, and OSU's new grant-funded bee project.

“This atlas will stand as a record of what we have done, and hopefully as a basis for understanding where we might go look for more records or need more records.“ - Dr. Chris Marshall.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Dr-Chris-Marshall

45 Practicing Good Mason Bee Stewardship... The Bee Buddy Way Mar 19, 2018

Listen in to learn how best to take care of your mason bees, when to place them outside, and how the Bee Buddy program helps the pollinator community.

“If any of you have the chance, take a mason bee or any pollinator, look at it under the microscope and I think it’s going to open up a whole new world to you.” - Jerry Paul.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Bee-Buddies

44 John Gates - Making Nucleus Colonies Mar 12, 2018

Listen in to learn about how John got started with nucleus colonies, how he has influenced other beekeepers, and what he saw change in his bees over time.

“We examined a number of different beekeeping operations, and it came out that nuc production was the best way to make money. “ - John Gates.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-John-Gates

43 Mark L. Winston - Listening to Bees Mar 05, 2018

Listen in to learn about Mark’s work on bees and their communication, how his publications have impacted beekeepers everywhere, and his upcoming release.

“If I was going to hang out with beekeepers, I needed to learn how to communicate with them effectively, and I learned very quickly that beekeepers are way smarter than most scientists give them credit for.“ - Mark L. Winston.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Mark-L-Winston

42 OSU Bee Squad - Honey Bees and Conservation (Research Retinue) Feb 26, 2018

Listen in to learn more about how honeybees affect global regions, which pollinators are the most effective, and how studies could improve their research.

“In the fight for bee conservation, we shouldn’t be focusing on honeybees because that’s an agricultural and economic issue, not a conservation issue.” - Isabella Messer.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-OSU-Bee-Squad

41 Rose Kachadoorian - What States Are Doing For pollinator Health Feb 19, 2018

Listen in to learn how your local and country agencies have fought for pollinator health, and what changes are taking place with farmers and regulators.

“To have this already written plan that has already been agreed upon as a good idea would be really useful for people who want to do the right thing, but aren’t quite sure what that is.“ - Rose Kachadoorian.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Rose-Kachadoorian

40 Tom Landis - Monarch Butterflies in Southwestern Oregon Feb 12, 2018

Listen in to learn more about the Monarch butterfly, what Monarch waystations are and why they exist, and their unique system of migration.

“The adult butterfly weighs half as much as a paperclip, yet they fly 40 miles a day and up to 700 miles [to their destination].“ - Tom Landis.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at bit.ly/PN-Tom-Landis

39 Jeff Reardon - Bees in the Legislature Feb 05, 2018

Listen in as we talk about Reardon’s landmark bill, what it has done for pollinators, and how he involved the bee-keeping community.

“[This bill] is one of my favorite projects, ever.“ - Jeff Reardon.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at bit.ly/PN-Jeff-Reardon

38 Dr. Ramesh Sagili - The Elusive Secrets of Honey Bee Nutrition and Controlling Varroa Mites Jan 29, 2018

Listen in as we talk about honey bee nutrition, what beekeepers need to know about nutrition supplements and sterols, and what Ramesh has learned about controlling varroa mites.

“There is not much that we understand about the needs of sterols in honey bees.” - Dr. Ramesh Sagili.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Ramesh-Sagili

37 Alison Center - North American Butterfly Association Jan 22, 2018

Listen in as we talk about butterflies, their fascinating relationship with nature, and how you can plant your garden to attract more butterflies.

“The first step is to be curious about butterflies and start noticing them, and then where does your interest lie? Would you like to know more about their natural history? Do you want more of them in your yard? Or are you a birder who wants something new?“ - Alison Center.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Alison-Center

36 John Gruszka - Independence From Packaged Honey Bees: the Case of Saskatchewan, Canada Jan 15, 2018

Listen in to hear about the history of pollinators in Northern Canada, wintering techniques, and how packages of bees have changed the beekeeping industry.

“In the summertime, it’s God’s country for beekeeping.“ - John Gruszka.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-John-Gruszka

35 BEEvent - Oregon’s Pollinator Conference Jan 08, 2018

Listen in to learn more about the BEEvent, Oregon’s pollinator conference, and what this event provides gardeners and pollinator enthusiasts of all kinds.

“There is a lot of hunger out there to do something to help [pollinators], but people don’t know what to do, and we’re giving them that information.” - Susan Morton.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-BEEvent

34 Dr. Gail Langellotto - What Pollinators Need From Gardeners in Urban Habitats Jan 01, 2018

Listen in to learn about ground nesting bees, the potential problems of plant lists, and how to maximize the benefits of urban landscapes for pollinators.

“A lot of [gardeners] don’t recognize the importance of next sites for bees, and in particular, the importance of nest sites for ground nesting bees.“ - Dr. Gail Langellotto.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Dr-Gail-Langellotto

33 Mehmet Ali Döke - How Honey Bees Survive The Winter Dec 26, 2017

Listen in to learn about the effect of the winter season on bee populations, how bees have adapted, and what beekeepers can do to protect their colonies.

“They’re in such large numbers, they wouldn’t be able to make it through another year if they couldn't start the spring earlier than the other species. That’s in a way an advantage, but also a curse.” - Mehmet Doke.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Mehmet-Ali-Doke

32 Matt Arrington - Highbush Blueberries and Honeybees Dec 18, 2017

Listen in to learn about highbush blueberries, and how honeybees can greatly benefit the pollination and harvest of your plants.

“[Blueberries] are blooming in the spring, when we usually have fairly heavy rainfall, low temperatures, windstorms, and those are all environmental conditions that are really not good for foraging activities, especially in honeybees.” - Matt Arrington.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Matt-Arrington

31 Doug Sponsler - The Risk of Pesticides to Honey Bees and Ecotoxicology Dec 04, 2017

Listen in as we go over pesticide's effects on pollinators, the difficulties in testing, and the advantages certain insects have in fighting pesticides.

“It’s a bit ironic that the most convenient organism for which to study toxicology from a logistical perspective, the honey bee, is also the most problematic one for which to interpret toxicology.“ - Doug Sponsler.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Doug-Sponsler

30 Steve Frank - Navigating Urban Environments For Pollinators Nov 27, 2017

Listen in to learn about how urban environments affect pollinators, what homeowners and civil planners can do to improve them, and which plants and trees are best for the city.

“People can even help their own local micro-habitat by shading their driveway and their house and things like that, which saves you energy to boot.“ - Steve Frank.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Steve-Frank

29 Alan Turanski - Saving The Bee Through Pollinator Awareness Nov 20, 2017

Listen in as we talk about the Alan’s work with GloryBee, their raising of bee awareness, and how beginning beekeepers can get started.

“At the beginning those were the two tenets of what we’re still trying to achieve today: to raise and expand awareness, and raise support [for honeybees]. “ - Alan Turanski.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at bit.ly/PN-Alan-Turanski

28 Al Shay - Urban Landscapes for People and Pollinators Nov 13, 2017

Find out more about what you can do for pollinators at your own home, and how Al blends aesthetic and functional aspects of landscaping and pollinator habitats.

“It seemed just a horrible shame to have 500-odd acres of space here on campus and have it all strictly geared toward something you look at as you pass by. We could do a better job than that.“ - Al Shay.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Al-Shay

27 Sarah Johnson - On Bumblebee Watch with Citizen Scientists Nov 06, 2017

Listen in as we talk about the bee population of Canada, her new captive breeding project, and how citizen science positively impacts her research.

“He surveyed a wide variety of people, and the vast majority of them think bees are important but nobody really knows what a bee is versus what a fly is.“ - Sarah Johnson.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at bit.ly/PN-Sarah-Johnson

26 Skyler Burrows - Bringing Taxonomy to Citizen Scientists Oct 30, 2017

In today’s episode, we will learn about Skyler’s work with pollinators, his projects with citizen scientists, and how you can get started in taxonomy.

“Things like ‘Bees In Your Backyard’ are really helpful, but until you have the bee in your hand, it’s really difficult to know what you’ve got.“ - Skyler Burrows.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at bit.ly/PN-Skyler-Burrows

25 Dr. Dewey M. Caron - Managing and Preventing Varroa Mites Oct 23, 2017

Listen in to this episode to learn about how you can keep your colonies safe from varroa mites, and what tools you can use to prevent and manage them.

“It’s not if your colony has varroa mites, that’s not the question you should be asking. You should be asking how many mites does my colony have? ” - Dr. Dewey M. Caron.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at bit.ly/PN-Dr-Dewey-M-Caron

24 Kristen Healy - Mosquito Abatement and Pollinators Oct 16, 2017

We will be talking about mosquito abatement techniques, their effect on pollinator health, and the research Kristen’s team has done to keep them safe.

“They really wanted to know if what they were doing with mosquito control was killing bees, so they asked if we could help address that topic.” - Kristen Healy.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-Kristen-Healy

23 George Hansen - Beekeeper Built Bee Habitat Oct 09, 2017

Listen in to learn George's experience as a land manager, good practice in cultivating pollinator habitats, and his work in the advocacy of pollinators.

“We’re creating in many areas what are virtually pollinator deserts.“ - George Hansen.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PN-George-Hansen

22 Oregon Flora Project - Making A New Natural Resource Oct 02, 2017

Listen in to learn more about the Oregon Flora Project, and the amazing benefits their research and data collection has on pollinators.

“The Oregon Flora Project is striving to make information useful and relevant…to a broad sector of the population.“ - Linda Hardison

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at bit.ly/PolliNation-22

21 Dr. Jim Rivers - Seeing The Forest For The Bees Sep 18, 2017

Dr. Jim Rivers is a vertebrate ecologist and leader of the Forest Animal Ecology Lab at Oregon State University. With broad research interests that are focused in the fields of animal behavior and physiological ecology, his research program combines observational, experimental, and comparative approaches to test predictions from theory in empirical settings. He recently lead the Pollinators in Managed Forests workshop, which brought together speakers from Oregon State, Washington State, Montana State and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to address a variety of topics, including the influence of wildfire severity, salvage logging, herbicides and practical ways to augment blooms for native bees.

We’re talking today about how pollinator habitats and forests coexist and work with each other, the ways that bees thrive in forested areas, and how he and others in the field have begun researching the interaction of pollinators in forested areas.

“There’s a lot more that we don’t know about bees in managed forests than what we do know.“ - Dr. Jim Rivers.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PolliNation-21

20 Erin Udal - Bringing Bees To The People Sep 11, 2017

Erin Udal leads community pollinator conservation projects out of Vancouver, BC and was formerly the Program Manager and Pollinator Specialist with the Environmental Youth Alliance. With her background in conservation biology, she designs bee-friendly gardens and develops citizen science projects, working to help people protect pollinators in our backyards and parks. Erin finds facilitating hands-on outdoor education very rewarding, and always pleased to share the fascinating and diverse world of native bees with anyone who cares to learn.

On today's episode, we talk with Erin Udal about developing citizen science projects, working to help people protect pollinators in our backyards and parks.

“I think it was Carl Sagan that said, ’Science is not so much a body of information, but a way of thinking’, and so I want people to feel like they are part of that way of thinking.“ - Erin Udal.

Learn more about this episode of PolliNation at http://bit.ly/PolliNation-20

19 David Phipps - Golf Courses as Pollinator Habitat Aug 28, 2017

David Phipps is considered one of the Northwest’s leaders in golf course environmental stewardship and innovation. While working as the superintendent at Stone Creek Golf, he received the GCSAA President’s Award for Environmental Stewardship in 2012, as well as the 2004-2005 Cooperator of the Year by the Clackamas County Soil and Water Conservation District. David received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Oregon State University in Horticulture, Turf and Landscape Management, and currently works for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America as the NW Region Field Staff Representative.

Today we’re talking about pollinator habitats curated within golf courses, how they can best be utilized, and David’s amazing contributions to conservation and the golf industry.