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ARS Home » Plains Area » Sidney, Montana » Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory » Pest Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #399208
Research Project: Biological Control and Habitat Restoration for Invasive Weed Management

Location: Pest Management Research

Title: Observing bees and wasps: Why surveys and monitoring programs are critical and how they can improve our understanding of these beneficial hymenopterans

Author
item GRAHAM, JASON - University Of Florida
item Campbell, Joshua
item TSALICKIS, ALEXANDRA - Clemson University
item STANLEY-STAHR, C. - University Of Florida
item ELLIS, JAMES - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Journal of Pollination Ecology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/2022
Publication Date: 6/7/2023
Citation: Graham, J., Campbell, J.W., Tsalickis, A., Stanley-Stahr, C., Ellis, J. 2023. Observing bees and wasps: Why surveys and monitoring programs are critical and how they can improve our understanding of these beneficial hymenopterans. Journal of Pollination Ecology. 33(9):139-169. https://doi.org/10.26786/1920-7603(2023)725.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26786/1920-7603(2023)725

Interpretive Summary: Understanding which bees and wasps visit certain plants and crops (e.g., plant-pollinator interactions) can help document important insects for crop pollination services, biological control insects, and population status of these beneficial insects. However, in order to understand environmental threats, crop pollinators, and managed pollinators, monitoring programs and surveys need to be accomplished. In this review, we discuss the importance of 1) evaluating populations of threatened and endangered bee and wasp species, 2) identifying and developing pollinators of crops, 3) identifying and developing wasp species for use as biological control agents, 4) surveying the ranges of non-native bees and wasps, and 5) utilizing bees and wasps as biological indicators.

Technical Abstract: Flower-visiting bees and wasps (Hymenoptera: Apoidea, Pompiloidea, Scolioidea, Tiphioidea, and Vespoidea) provide essential services in agricultural and urban systems, and ecological functions in natural ecosystems. Understanding the population trends, resource requirements and preferences, ecological challenges, and how to manage these species better requires increased surveys and standardized monitoring efforts for both groups. A monitoring program performed at various scales that provides ecological data is a prerequisite to managing either bees or wasps for conservation or crop pollination purposes. Methods to survey and monitor bees and wasps can be accomplished by a variety of means, depending on the researchers’ aims and goals. Herein, we discuss the importance of 1) evaluating populations of threatened and endangered bee and wasp species, 2) identifying and developing pollinators of crops, 3) identifying and developing wasp species for use as biological control agents, 4) surveying the ranges of non-native bees and wasps, and 5) utilizing bees and wasps as biological indicators. We also discuss strategies for the selection of surveying and monitoring tools and methodologies best suited to specific goals and situations in beneficial Hymenoptera research. Our hope is that this review will lead to additional bee/wasp survey and monitoring programs and assist researchers with selecting tools and methodologies for the purpose of better understanding these beneficial insects.