I would appreciate hearing from anyone who's worked with native bees
anywhere in the Eastern U.S., especially the Mid-Atlantic.
There's currently some discussion in my community about the impact of
mosquito spraying on beneficial insects, with many residents noticing that
easily visible species such as fireflies are virtually eliminated after a
neighborhood is fogged. I'd be interested to hear about native bees, which
tend to be overlooked by almost everyone.
In particular, I'd be very interested to know the total numbers of native
bee species in the Mid-Atlantic states, and whether any (or most) of these
species have been experiencing documented declines. I'd also be grateful for
any information about the ecological impact of native bees, such as how many
native plant species they pollinate, or other facts that would be valuable for
encouraging people to think favorably about our native bees. Please contact me
off-list with my thanks in advance.
- J. A.
