Latest buzz on bee decline: Studies blame pesticides

Updated: Friday, March 30, 2012 1:49 PM
SETH BORENSTEIN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A common class of pesticide is causing problems for honeybees and bumblebees, important species already in trouble, two studies suggest. But the findings don't explain all the reasons behind a long-running bee decline, and other experts found one of the studies less than convincing. The new research suggests the chemicals used in the pesticide -- designed to attack the central nervous system of insects -- reduces the weight and number of
queens in bumblebee hives. These pesticides also cause honeybees to become disoriented and fail to return to their hives, the researchers concluded. The two studies were published online Thursday in the journal Science. Just last week activists filed a petition with more than a million signatures asking the government to ban the class of pesticides called neonicotinoids. The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said it is re-evaluating the chemicals and is seeking scientific help.

Redback (?) Salamander (Plethedon or Plethodon cinereus)

Using The Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of New Jersey from the NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, I tried to identify this little fellow we found among some of the garden clippings. He looked reddish brown with very small white spots all over his body. The belly was the same color. As you can see in the picture, he didn't want to sit still for a photograph, so we quickly snapped these pictures and then let him go into the Egg Garden. Interestingly, it also looked like he may have recently lost his tail. If someone more knowledgeable can verify or correct the identification, leave a comment.

Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on the Butterfly Bush

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly, Papilio glaucus, on Butterfly Bush

Of all my butterflies, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is the most frequent visitor and the least fearful photography subject.

Silver Spotted Skipper Butterfly, Epargyreus clarus, on Butterfly Bush

Here's another skipper that does not like to stay still for a decent photograph.

Correction: Female Zabulon (not Hobomok) Skipper Butterfly, Poanes zabulon, on Butterfly Bush

She skips around a mile a minute, so I felt lucky to get this shot.
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Thank you to Randy Emmitt for the correct identification--this "handyman/photographer" from Rougemont, North Carolina really knows his butterflies. Check out his blog Randy & Meg's Garden Paradise.

Correction: American (not Painted) Lady Butterfly, Vanessa virgiensis, on Butterfly Bush

Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly, Papilio troilus, on Pink Phlox

Ladybug (Coccinellidae) Pupai

It seems like we've had a greater number of ladybugs in the garden this year. The children have had fun watching the metamorphosis from larva to pupai (pictured) to adults.

A Surprise Visitor: Orange, Black and White Mystery Snake, perhaps the "Coastal Plain" Milk Snake Integrade

My nine year-old son spotted this small, handsome snake hiding next to the brunnera in the Front Border. I've never even seen a snake in my garden before, and this one was quite a sight: prominent orange spots outlined in black on a white background.
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According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's website on snakes, it looks like either (i) the "Coastal Plain" Milk Snake integrade, which is a rare cross between the Eastern Milksnake and the Scarlet Kingsnake, (ii) the Scarlet Kingsnake, or the (iii) Northern Scarlet Snake. According to the website, none of them live in Morris County, but then my identification may be off. It looked like a baby, a little thicker than a pencil and no more than one foot long. If there are any ophiophiles out there who can identify it, let me know.

Pictures of House Wren, Goldfinch, Tufted Titmouse and Downy Woodpecker Bird Nests from the Garden

One of the many things that I enjoy about being a gardener is the opportunity for my family to observe all of the native wildlife close-up, particularly the birds. In preparation for spring, we cleaned out all of the bird houses and nesting boxes around the yard and it is so amazing to see how each type of bird nest is made of different materials from the garden. Here are a few of the nests that we found and my best guesses on who made them:

The house wrens made their nest exclusively with twigs. Unfortunately, we discovered a few babies that didn't make it out of this nest last year. They made this nest in one of the small bird houses on Goldberry Hill (picture of a house wren nest).
The goldfinches (?) made their nest mostly of wood shavings, small pieces of cedar mulch, and coarse grasses. I think it was made by goldfinches because of the yellow goldfinch-looking feathers I found in the box, but Paul H. below in the comments suggests it may not be. They made this in one of the nest boxes on the deer fence (picture of a goldfinch nest).
The tufted titmice win the contest for the most comfortable-looking nest. They made their nest mostly of leaves and fine grasses. They made this nest in the children's fort. Interestingly, the nest was built vertically like a cave instead of horizontally like a cup (picture of a tufted titmouse nest).
The downy woodpeckers (?) made this nest mostly of wood shavings topped with leaves. Thanks to Paul H. in the comments below for the identification (picture of a downy woodpecker nest).

Swallowtail Caterpillar (Pterourus glaucus)

As a follow-up to my prior post of the beautiful Swallowtail butterfly, the fennel in the pot on my deck is now covered with these attractive Swallowtail caterpillars. The photo doesn't fully capture the vibrant contrast between the black, white, and green stripes and the iridescent yellow spots that make these caterpillars even more flamboyant than the monarch caterpillars (pictured in a prior post).

Annuals and Perennials to Help Save The Bees

I've been reading for over a year now about the decline in the global bee population. This season, there was even a noticeable decrease in our local bees. In today's Wall Street Journal, Josie Glausiusz reviews Fruitless Fall by Rowan Jacobsen which examines what's happening. Sadly, Ms. Glausiusz writes:

"No one knows where the bees have gone. No one knows the cause, either, though theories abound, ranging from the absurd (cellphones, the hole in the ozone layer) to the alarming (rampant pesticide use, widespread loss of habitat). After extensive interviews with beekeepers and bee biologists, Mr. Jacobsen concludes that a "rogue's gallery" of stresses may have driven honeybees to the edge: parasitic mites and beetle beehive-invaders, and a slew of bacterial, fungal and viral diseases, not to mention "pesticides, antibiotics, malnutrition, urbanization, globalization and global warming." Florida's state apiarist, Jerry Hayes, tells the author: "I'm surprised honeybees are alive at all.""

My favorite ice cream maker, Haagen Dazs, has set up a website http://helpthehoneybees.com/. On this website, under "How you can help," it suggests four things: plant bee-friendly plants; donate to universities that are doing research on Colony Collapse Disorder; support beekeepers; and tell your friends. The bee-friendly plants they suggest are: lavender, glory bushes, jasmine, rosemary, coreopsis, violets, thyme, wisteria, bluebells, trumpet vine, sunflowers, cosmos and cone flowers.

Well, I've already planted most of these bee-friendly plants and now I'm telling my friends. Please do the same!

Busy, Busy Bumblebees

The Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) emerges from its chrysalis and another feeds on a Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundiflora)

As a follow-up to my prior post about the monarch caterpillars we have been enjoying and the chrysalis we found of our deck, my five year old son actually found the new butterfly after it emerged from its chrysalis. We didn't see it actually come out, but we knew this was the one because it was was walking on the deck a few inches away from the old chrysalis with its moist, unfurled wings. It didn't fly away for a few hours.

Here's a picture of another beautiful monarch I caught feeding on our Mexican sunflower in the Children's Garden. Unlike some other butterflies, I find that these monarchs don't let you get too close.

Pictures of Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) Caterpillars on Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa) and Chrysalis on the Deck

The children love counting the dozens of Monarch Butterfly caterpillars growing and crawling all over the Butterfly Weed.
The chrysalis of the Monarch Butterfly is something beautiful to behold. A photograph cannot capture the shiny translucence of it, which is truly breathtaking.

Follow-up: the Monarch Butterfly emerges from its chrysalis.

Caterpillars that Sting: Pictures of Saddleback Caterpillars (Acharia stimulea)

I was picking up some rose pruning clippings today when I felt a stinging sensation on my hand. I have never seen this little creature before, but my daughter identified it as the Saddleback Caterpillar, which she had previously seen in one of her science books. Unknown to me, these little creatures can actually sting you from their four distinctive spines. The first picture includes three caterpillars. The second picture includes one of the unhatched eggs. The caterpillar matures into an unremarkable brown moth, that you can see on bugguide.net.

Picture of an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Pterourus glaucus) on a Butteryfly Bush (Buddleia)

Swamp Darner Dragonfly among the Roses and Clematis

Earlier this week, I saw an amazing dragonfly resting among the roses and clematis. I see a lot of dragonflies in the garden, but I've never seen one this large before. It was huge--almost four inches long, though I haven't figured out exactly which one it is yet. I'm working my way through the New Jersey Odanata Enthusiasts' website to try to determine which it is--perhaps some sort of Darner. If someone can identify it for me, let me know!

Follow-up: I sent a picture of my dragonfly to the good people at the New Jersey Odanta Enthusiasts and they were able to identify my dragonfly as a Swamp Darner (Epiaeschna heros). Description: Huge. The size makes it almost unmistakable, but just in case, the blue eyes, prominent green thoracic stripes and brown abdomen ringed in green should remove all doubt.

Picture of a Golden-banded Skipper (Autochton cellus) on Jewel Weed (Impatiens capensis)

I saw a tiny (about an inch and a half across) little butterfly that I had never seen in my garden before. As you can see in the picture, she is all black with a distinctive yellow band on her wings. Looking at my butterfly books, she appears to be a Golden-banded Skipper. In flight, given the rapid fluttering and an erratic flight pattern, the yellow band almost looks like a vibrating circle. She didn't stay still for very long, so was happy that I was able to dash back into the house, grab my camera, and snap this one picture before she said goodbye.