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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Pollinator Health in Southern Crop Ecosystems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #423149
Research Project: Ecological Assessment and Mitigation Strategies to Reduce the Risks of Bees to Stressors in Southern Crop Ecosystems

Location: Pollinator Health in Southern Crop Ecosystems Research

Title: Spring Bees in the Mississippi Delta

Author
item Parys, Katherine

Submitted to: Delta Farm Press
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/4/2025
Publication Date: 4/3/2025
Citation: Parys, K.A. 2025. Spring Bees in the Mississippi Delta. Delta Farm Press. 33(1):23-24. https://www.deltawildlife.org/uploads/3/1/9/5/3195527/66919__delta_wildlife_spring_2025_proof.pdf.

Interpretive Summary: Early spring in the Mississippi Delta is a time of transition, especially when it comes to the interplay of weather, wildlife, and plants. It’s an exciting time for bees, as they emerge from the winter to take advantage of the first blooms of the year. These first species often have some unique characteristics, both in terms of behavior and biology, that help them survive and thrive in the chilly early spring.

Technical Abstract: A variety of bees (Hymenoptera: Anthophila) emerge during the early spring months across the Mississippi Delta. Early blooming plants that support bees in the area include plants in the following genera: Cercis (redbud), Acer (maple), Cornus (dogwood), Prunus (various fruit trees), Viola (violet), and Lamium (henbit and purple deadnettle). These spring flowers provide pollen and nectar for a diverse array of bees that have a variety of unique characteristics, both in terms of behavior and biology, to help them survive and thrive in the chilly early spring.