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Beneficial Insects and PollinatorsBiofuelsClimateDroughtEmergency PreparednessInvasive SpeciesNatural DisastersPollution and ContaminantsSustainabilityWaterWeatherWell WaterWildlife
14 publications were found on Beneficial-Insects-and-Pollinators
  • Common Hover Flies of Georgia: An Introductory Guide (B 1565) With over 6,000 species world-wide and 812 in the United States and Canada, hover flies (Diptera: Syrphidae), also known as flower flies or syrphid flies, are a highly diverse, common, and charismatic family of insects which provide a broad diversity of ecosystem services including pollination, biological control, and decomposition that benefit humans. Despite this, these insects are largely unnot…
  • Georgia Fireflies (C 1213) Georgia is home to over 50 species of fireflies, more than any other U.S. state. Also known as lightning bugs, the insects’ “dancing light” patterns are an important, and nostalgic, part of Georgia summer evenings. To protect fireflies and ensure that we continue to enjoy their presence in the landscape, it is important to understand their lifecycle and habitat needs.
  • Honey Bee Swarms and Bees in Walls (C 824) This circular is for property owners who have unwanted honey bee swarms on their lands or colonies nesting inside walls. It explains these natural processes and gives options for dealing with them.
  • Joro Spider: Trichonephila clavata (C 1273) The Joro spider is native to East Asia and was first detected in Georgia in 2014. It is found in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, and is spreading to adjacent regions. It has one generation per year in its native range. Adult females become sexually mature in September and early October. The female’s body is bright yellow with broad, horizontal bluish-green bands on the to…
  • Natural Enemies of Pests in the Southeast Blueberry Systems of Georgia (B 1562) Blueberries are becoming the state fruit of Georgia with considerable acreage planted. Blueberries have many pest challenges and a current invasive pest challenge from spotted wing drosophilia (SWD). While efforts are underway to release new biocontrol agents for SWD, we still know little about the natural enemies in blueberry systems. Here we provide an overview of common natural enemies and cons…
  • Pollinator Garden Design Guide Appendices (B 1570-1) The lead author of this publication is Katherine Melcher, College of Environment and Design. The UGA Extension contact for the publication's content is Becky Griffin. These appendices provide information about plants that grow well in Georgia’s Piedmont Ecoregion, as well as to-scale plant symbol and plant ID card templates for use in creating design plans.
  • Pollinator Garden Design Guide: Activities for Youth, Schools, and Beginning Designers (B 1570) The lead author of this publication is Katherine Melcher, College of Environment and Design. The UGA Extension contact for the publication's content is Becky Griffin. Providing opportunities for youth to design their environment can increase their connection to everyday nature and increase their sense of empowerment. By combining ecology and design, garden design can also be a central piece in STE…
  • Selecting Trees and Shrubs as Resources for Pollinators (B 1483) We can positively affect pollinator populations in our region by providing plants that help sustain them. Pollinators face the increasing challenges of habitat loss, parasite and disease pressure, and the unintended consequences of pesticide misuse. Bee forage plants can bloom season-long with careful plant selection appropriate to the region. A combination of herbaceous perennial and annual plant…
  • Small Flowering Gardens Help the Migrating Monarch Butterfly (B 1558) A classic example of a North American species that undergoes a great migration is the monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus Linnaeus. Monarchs travel on air currents and cross more than 3000 miles in winter to reach their overwintering sites. Monarch butterfly populations are showing a declining trend. As the overwintering habitat in Mexico is destroyed by logging or deforestation activities, they h…
  • Spanish Series: Guía Visual de las Abejas Comunes de los Campos de Arándanos en el sureste de Georgia (C 1295-SP) Autor adicional: Michael Ulyshen, entomólogo investigador, Servicio Forestal de EE. UU. Esta guía muestra las abejas silvestres más comunes de las plantaciones de arándanos en el sur de Georgia. El material presentado aquí es un resumen visual del muestreo de 2021 y 2022 en campos comerciales de arándanos de los condados productores más importantes: Bacon, Pierce y Ware. En total, se encontraron m…
  • The Buzz About Bees: Bumblebees Have a Lot to Offer (C 1290) Bumblebees are prone to catch your attention with their sonicating buzz or conspicuous and colorful appearance. They are robust, fuzzy-looking insects, with varying bands of coloration and a hairy abdomen. This characteristic differentiates them from the look-alike carpenter bees. Carpenter bees have bald abdomens. Similar to honeybees, bumblebees are in the family Apidae; they are social bees but…
  • The Intersection of Mosquito Management and Pollinator Protection (C 1188) Mosquitoes can transmit a wide variety of pathogens and significantly reduce our quality of life with their aggressive biting behavior. On the other end of the spectrum, pollinators are a critical part of our natural environment, contributing significantly to food production and ecological diversity. Honey bees, along with other pollinators, are susceptible to pesticides, and significant bee kills…
  • Visual Guide to Common Bees of Blueberry Fields in Southeast Georgia (C 1295) Additional author: Michael Ulyshen, Research Entomologist, U.S. Forest Service. This visual guide helps people identify common wild bees encountered in blueberry systems. The contribution of wild bees to blueberry pollination has is becoming widely recognized. Proper identification of these insects in the field is critical part of conservation efforts.
  • Visual Guide to Common Wildflowers of South Georgia (C 1288) Wildflowers not only beautify the landscape but also provide food and shelter for myriad insects, birds, and mammals. Georgia is rich in endemic (belonging in a particular area or environment) species which grow in a wide variety of habitats, from coastal dunes and pine sandhills to savannas, meadows, and forests. Although many species are primarily seen in undisturbed natural habitats, others hav…