Is that flower pollinated? CSU Native Bee Watch

CSU - Native Bee Watch

"Bees are pollinating flowers only when they are visiting the reproductive flower parts. If the bee is on the petals, leaves, or stem, the bee is not pollinating. Look inside a flower to see the anthers and the stigma. Note the pollen on the anthers. That pollen needs to be transferred to another flower of the same species or the same plant."

CSU - Native Bee Watch

CSU - Native Bee Watch

What are Bee Characteristics?

"Bee Characteristics:

• Four wings - two pairs, sometimes difficult to see, hind wings are often small

• Hair - most have hairy bodies for carrying pollen

• Eyes - large, well-separated on top of head

• Antennae - long, segmented, and often bent

• Corbiculae - many bees have flattened plates used as pollen baskets on hind legs What are Bee Characteristics?

• Scopa - Pollen-carrying hairs on hind legs or abdomen, often covered with pollen

• Body Shape - rounder bodies than wasps and flies

• Size - 2 to 25 mm (less than 1/8th inch to 1 inch) or more

• Body Color - Can be black, brown, orange, yellow, red, metallic blue or green, or copper-colored

• Stripes - Body color (exoskeleton) or hair colors (yellow, orange, white, black, or brown) can form stripes"

"Flies Versus Bees:

Flies can often be confused with bees because some look very similar and often mimic bees.

Common characteristics that differentiate flies from bees include:

• Two (one pair) of flying wings

• Short, thick antennae, usually three segments (bees usually have 10-11 segments)

• Large eyes near the front of their head

• Usually not hairy (there are exceptions)

• Flies can hover (most bees cannot)

• Flies do not carry pollen loads"

Article: Native Bee Watch A Colorado Citizen Science Field Guide

Lisa Mason, Boris Kondratieff, Arathi H. S. Colorado State University

Adapted from the Xerces Society’s California Pollinator Project: Citizen Science Pollinator Monitoring Guide, 2010, by Katharina Ullmann, Mace Vaughan, Claire Kremen, Tiffany Shih, and Matthew Shepherd.

Complete Article:  BeeWatch

Photos:  CSU Native Bee Watch - A Colorado Citizen Science Field Guide