November 20, 2020

Global Map of Bee Species

A new article published in the journal Current Biology reports of a world wide mapping of bee distribution. See https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/scientists-create-buzz-first-ever-global-map-bee-species-180976348/ for the report. No links at this time.

Posted on November 20, 2020 06:07 AM by carexobnupta carexobnupta | 0 comments | Leave a comment

May 23, 2020

Identification of the Diptera

A valuable new resource for the identification of the Diptera is available at https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/edanko/archives/2020/05. This journal posting from Even Dankowicz, edanko, provides an introduction of the Diptera sub-taxa with photographs and identification features, with regional inventories. This resource provides a helpful tool to assist with the identification of the flies that are found associated with flowers.

Posted on May 23, 2020 04:16 PM by carexobnupta carexobnupta | 0 comments | Leave a comment

February 12, 2017

First Review of the Pollinator Associations in the Pacific North West

The main goal of the Pollinator Association Project is to identify the habitat requirements in areas of interest. Although the identification of pollinator habitat is a world wide concern, I am restricting my analysis to the Pacific Northwest. My main interest area is the lowland Puget-Willamette Trough including the Georgia Basin at the northern end. This ecoregion is defined by floral communities of similar species but different proportions. The lowland Puget-Willamette Trough also shares a floral inventory with the larger Northwest region of SW British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

The pollinator species ranges of most of the Puget-Willamette Trough extend well beyond the Pacific Northwest lowlands and beyond the range of floral species found with in the larger Pacific Northwest region. Thus the established associations in the larger region are important to the understanding of the ecological associations within the lowland region.

As of 10 February 2017 the Pollinator Associations Project database contains 311 observations. These observations identify a diverse community of insects and a range of trophic associations. Two species of flowers standout Leucanthemum vulgare, Ox-eye Daisy and Anaphalis margaritacea, Pearly-everlasting. There were 21 observations of Ox-eye Daisy being nectared followed by 16 observations of Pearly-everlasting. The Pearly-everlasting is considered a native species whereas the Ox-eye Daisy is a introduced non-native. Other introduced non-native species also stand out as important associates to many nectar generalists. Rubus bifrons, European Blackberry and Daucus carota, Queen-Anne's-lace each had 11 observations. The total number of the associate obsrvations identified to species was 158. Of that number 125 of the observations were on non-native species and 33 were of native species.

Papilio rutulus, Western Tiger Swallowtail was the most observed pollinator with 31 observations on non-native flowers. Rubus bifrons was the dominate species with 8 observations followed by Buddleja davidii with 5 observations. Bombus vosnesenskii was the second common pollinator with 25 observations and had a much more diverse range of trophic associations. The top Bombus vosnesenskii trophic interactions at the floral family level were Lamiaceae and Asteraceae families.

13 February 2017

After considering the distribution of Toxomerus marginatus, I surveyed the current observations across the species range. The total observation count was 143. The vast majority of the observations were with Asteraceae. There were a number of notable floral associations. The general view is Toxomerus marginatus is a Aster family generalist with notable use of a number genera at the local level.

EOL reports Toxomerus marginatus use in 43 families in Illinois, http://eol.org/pages/750927/details . There is a large list of Aster species with 45 species identified. This regional detail suggest a very general pollen nectar feeding fly. It is not clear if the large number of Aster species represents a trophic preference or a ecological dominance of the family in the region.

The wide geographical range of Toxomerus marginatus and wide range of family use suggest that it is an important pollinator and should be considered in regional conservation plans.

Posted on February 12, 2017 10:05 PM by carexobnupta carexobnupta | 0 comments | Leave a comment

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