Bees
The Order Hymenoptera - comprising bees, wasps, ants, and several other taxa - is one of the most diverse groups of species in our state and includes some of the most important and interesting though least appreciated of our species. Several of them, particularly bees, are critically important for agriculture. Others, including wasps and ants, play just as important roles in maintaining the integrity of our native ecosystems. Currently in North Carolina, there are an estimated 564 species of bees (see checklist) and 117 species of ants. We do not have a current estimation for the number of wasp species in North Carolina.
Although these groups provide different ecosystem services, there are common threats that jeopardize their populations. As landscapes are increasingly fragmented and developed, the necessary habitat for these insect groups is reduced. Further, as climatic conditions change, species ranges will change with some species' population sizes shrinking and others' - typically the most common or pest-like species - population sizes expanding. However, different species can be very different from each other in their biology, life history, and how they respond to environmental stressors. Thus, identifying and learning about each species is a crucial first step towards working to protect and conserve their populations. Without knowing a species identity we cannot know what resources they need to survive.
The group that has received arguably the most attention out of Hymenoptera is bees, due to their great importance for ecosystem functioning and human well-being. Bees require two basic resources: food and shelter. For food, bees require pollen and nectar to successfully raise their young, which they collect from flowers. Some bee species are generalists, meaning they can collect pollen and nectar from a wide variety of plant species. Other species are specialists, meaning they need to collect these resources from a select group of plants. Regardless, as habitat is removed from the landscape the amount of floral resources available to bee species is reduced, posing a threat to their populations. In response, there have been great conservation efforts to restore and establish habitat for bees by planting seed mixes of wildflowers in a wide variety of landscapes from roadsides to solar panel farms to agricultural areas. In addition to supporting bees, these habitats can provide resources for a wide variety of organisms including wasps and ants.
More recently, efforts have been made to establish additional shelter for bees by providing nesting resources. This conservation effort is a bit trickier as many bee species nest underground, some nest in stems and twigs, others in wood, and a few species in cavities. So, there is not one common habitat restoration that would easily provide resources for all bee species. Nonetheless, efforts to provide some nesting habitat - such as stems in bee hotels - have shown some success. Nesting habitat efforts can also provide resources to other Hymenoptera as well. For example, there are several species of stem nesting wasps that can utilize bee hotels. Thus, working to restore habitat and protecting natural areas can provide wide benefits to the ecosystem, beyond the original focal species.
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