Solitary bees and wasps in your own backyard!

Honey Bee Research & Extension Lab      

     

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to follow the step 1, 2, 3 sequentially through participation in the project?

A: We strongly recommend that you follow our steps in order, otherwise, we may not be able to use your data for our research. If you have any suggestions, or want to conduct the project your own way, you are more than welcome to discuss your ideas with us (leave your message in contact page).

How can I get access to the data that I have submitted?

A: You are always welcome to contact us for your data entries, send an email with the subject as 'My Data Request', include your name, email address (same as those used in your profile), and detailed request to nativebuzz@ifas.ufl.edu.

What else can I do to help pollinators?

A: Good questions, here are some things you can do:

  • Plant a pollinator garden. Most native bees rarely sting gardeners and if they d, the sting tends to be mild, so no need to be fearful.
  • Avoid pesticides or choose non-chemical solutions to insect problems. If you must use a pesticide, read the label and apply and dispose of it according to label directions.
  • Provide a source of pesticide-free water and mud. A dripping faucet, mud puddle, or birdbath attracts butterflies and beneficial insects.
  • Plant native plants from your ecoregion. Using locally native flowering plants is the best gardening you can choose to benefit your local pollinators.
  • Provide a variety of native flowering trees, shrubs, and wildflowers that bloom successively throughout the seasons.
  • You can also plant the kind of lawn that provides habitat beneficial to bees. A perfectly manicured, pesticide-saturated lawn is a desert to wildlife, including pollinators.
  • Provide nesting habitats for bees. A simple bare spot here and there may be enough for an aggregation of hard working soil nesting native bees. Build or buy your own bee houses (just like what we are doing here).