Fisherman's Island National Wildlife Refuge

This is a summary of bee data from 4 sampling locations (sampled twice) from Fisherman's Island National Wildlife Refuge collected in September 2008. Each field was sampled with 5 fluorescent yellow, 5 fluorescent blue, and 5 white 3.25 ounce bowl traps, however, one field was sampled with white styrofoam bowls when the others were not available.

A complete table of the data is available from Leo Shapiro (lshapiro@umd.edu), Sam Droege (sdroege@usgs.gov), or the refuge biologist.

Below is a table of the site numbers and a brief site description followed by a table of results.

5575	FINWR Site Styr9
5576	FINWR Site Styr10
5578	FINWR Site Styr12
5579	FINWR Site NOTstyr9
5580	FINWR Site NONstyr10
5582	FINWR Site NONstyr12

Refuge Collection Sites

Species	5575	5576	5578	5579	5580	5582	Grand Total
Agapostemon splendens	1	1					2
Augochlora pura					1		1
Ceratina dupla			1			1	2
Perdita boltoniae				1		1	2
Perdita consobrina					1		1
Megachile brevis					1		1
Grand Total	1	1	1	1	3	2	9

Note first of all that the 4 sites were run 2 separate times due to a bowl problem with the first run. As you can see from the table the results were extremely sparse. Some sets of bowls had no bees whatsoever. However, the bees that were gotten were extremely interesting. Agapostemon splendens is a bee of deep sandy sites, often found in dune systems and therefore no surprise here (it occurs in abundance all along Assateague Island, for example). The Augochlora, Ceratina, and Megachile are common bees, found just about anywhere, but the Perdita are quite rare. Both species are new state records for Virginia and in general would be restricted to dry, deep sand sites. Perdita boltoniae appears to be particularly fond of Chrysopsis (golden aster) which would be likely to be found at such sites. Perdita consobrina is interesting in that this is the northernmost record for that species and it appeared somewhat intermediate between the P. consobrina specimens from the Sandhills NWR and P. swenki, which is found in dune systems in the North (such as Long Island). We will be sending that specimen off to get its little DNA checked.

The head of P. consobrina taken from Mitchell's Bees of the Eastern United States.



Sam and Leo

To see the world in a grain of sand
and heaven in a wildflower,
hold infinity in the palm of your hand
and eternity in an hour.

- William Blake

Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge

This is a summary of bee data from 4 fields from the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge collected in August 2008. Each field was sampled with 5 fluorescent yellow, 5 fluorescent blue, and 5 white 3.25 ounce bowl traps.

A complete table of the data is available from Leo Shapiro (lshapiro@umd.edu), Sam Droege (sdroege@usgs.gov), or the refuge biologist.

Below is a table of the site numbers and a brief site description followed by a table of results.

5583	RCNWR-Spurwink Div. Site 1
5584	RCNWR-Spurwink Div. Site 2
5585	RCNWR-Spurwink Div. Site 3
5586	RCNWR-Spurwink Div. Site 4

Refuge Site Locations

Table of results

Species	5583	5584	5585	5586	Grand Total
Augochlorella aurata	1			1	2
Bombus fervidus	1				1
Bombus fervidus/pensylvanicus		2			2
Bombus impatiens				3	3
Ceratina calcarata	2	1			3
Ceratina dupla	1				1
Halictus confusus			1	1	2
Hoplitis producta		1			1
Hylaeus affinis/modestus		1	3	1	5
Hylaeus mesillae	1				1
Lasioglossum coriaceum		1			1
Lasioglossum cressonii	1				1
Lasioglossum planatum				1	1
Lasioglossum quebecense		1			1
Lasioglossum rohweri	1			1	2
Megachile brevis	1				1
Melissodes desponsa				1	1
Melissodes druriella	1				1
Sphecodes sp.	1	4	1		6
Grand Total	11	11	5	9	36

While having one of the lowest total number of bees captured, this refuge's fields were quite species rich. Note that most species were detected with only 1 or 2 individuals, indicating that there are likely to be many more species on the refuge that were not detected. No particular species stands out; despite the northern latitude, all these species could be found in the southern part of the region. The relatively large number of the nest parasite Sphecodes is interesting. We have a difficult time determining species in this group but all appeared to be the same species and will be sent off to have their DNA squeezed.

Sam and Leo


To those who have not yet learned the secret of true happiness,
begin now to study the little things in your own door yard.

-George Washington Carver

Pictures of the surveyed fields

Field 1

Field 2

Field 3

Field 4

Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge

This is a summary of bee data from 8 fields from the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge collected in August 2008. Each field was sampled with 5 fluorescent yellow, 5 fluorescent blue, and 5 white 3.25 ounce bowl traps.

A complete table of the data is available from Leo Shapiro (lshapiro@umd.edu), Sam Droege (sdroege@usgs.gov), or the refuge biologist.

Below is a table of the site numbers and a brief site description followed by a table of results.

Number	Site
5612	ORINWR Site 1;Middle Island, St. Mary's, WV;Collectors' Garmin code NBSF1, NBSF15
5613	ORINWR Site 2;Middle Island, St. Mary's, WV;Collectors' Garmin code NBSF2, NBSF215
5614	ORINWR Site 3;Middle Island, St. Mary's, WV;Collectors' Garmin code NBSF3, NBSF315
5615	ORINWR Site 4;Middle Island, St. Mary's, WV;Collectors' Garmin code NBSF415, NBSF4
5616	ORINWR Site 5;Buckley Mainland, Williamstown, WV;Collectors' Garmin code NBSF5
5617	ORINWR Site 6;Buckley Mainland, Williamstown, WV;Collectors' Garmin code NBSF6
5618	ORINWR Site 7;Buckley Mainland, Williamstown, WV;Collectors' Garmin code NBSF7
5619	ORINWR Site 8;Buckley Mainland, Williamstown, WV;Collectors' Garmin code NBSF8

Site Locations on Middle Island


Locations on the mainland



Table of the results by species

Species	5612	5613	5614	5615	5616	5617	5618	5619	Grand Total
Agapostemon virescens						1			1
Apis mellifera			1		1				2
Augochlora pura						1		1	2
Bombus impatiens	2	2		1			1		6
Calliopsis andreniformis						3			3
Ceratina calcarata		4	3	1	6	1	1		16
Ceratina dupla	3	3	5	2					13
Ceratina sp.					1				1
Ceratina strenua	1				6	3		3	13
Halictus confusus			1		1		1		3
Halictus ligatus							1		1
Hylaeus affinus/modestus	1			1	1	1		1	5
Lasioglossum coriaceum					2				2
Lasioglossum fattigi/apocyni						1	1		2
Lasioglossum imitatum						4	2		6
Lasioglossum rohweri	1	1	20	10		4	2	1	39
Lasioglossum viridatum group	14	16	44	41	11	11	4	1	142
Megachile mendica						1			1
Melissodes bimaculata					1	2		1	4
Peponapis pruinosa					1	2			3
Grand Total	22	26	74	56	31	35	13	8	265

Quite a good number of bees in these traps, averaging over 2 bees per bowl. There is some interesting variation in the totals per field, spanning from 8 to 74. You can see that there is a shift between the two main localities with the numbers for Ceratina dupla, Lasioglossum rohweri, Lasioglossum viridatum being more common on the Island and several species showing up only on the mainland. It will be interesting to look at some of the community analyses here. Species-wise, the L. viridatum group is likely to be only one species, but there is a problem telling species apart within this group so at this point we cannot put a single name on things that look like these species. The L. fattigi/apocyni specimens are similar, but we aren't sure if there are really 1 or 2 of these uncommon species, likely we will send these off to get DNAed. Other than the aforementioned L. fattigi/apocyni specimens, this is a very straightforward interior East group of bees; all are common and would be expected in good numbers in almost any survey.

Sam and Leo

from Jayber Crow

No matter how much it may be used by towing companies ... and the like, the
river doesn't belong to the workaday world. ... Nothing keeps to its own way
more than the river does.
Another thing: No matter how corrupt and trashy it necessarily must be at
times in this modern world, the river is never apart from beauty. Partly, I
suppose, this is because it always keeps to its way.
Sometimes, living right beside it, I forget it. Going about my various
tasks, I don't think about it. And then it seems just to flow back into my
mind. I stop and look at it. I think of its parallel, never-meeting banks,
which never yet part. I think of it lying there in its long hollow, at the
foot of all the landscape, a single opening from its springs in the mountains
all the way to its mouth. It is a beautiful thought, one of the most
beautiful of all thoughts. I think it not in my brain only but in my heart
and in all the lengths of my bones.

- Wendell Berry

Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge

This is a summary of bee data from 4 fields from Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware collected in August 2008. Each field was sampled with 5 fluorescent yellow, 5 fluorescent blue, and 5 white 3.25 ounce bowl traps.

A complete table of the data is available from Leo Shapiro (lshapiro@umd.edu), Sam Droege (sdroege@usgs.gov), or the refuge biologist.

Below is a table of the site numbers and a brief site description followed by a table of results.

Site	Description
5587	BHNWR Site 1;=Refuge Field #33
5588	BHNWR Site 2;=Refuge Field #403
5589	BHNWR Site 3;=Refuge Field #1-W
5590	BHNWR Site 4;=Refuge Field #11

Site Locations taken from a shot of Google Maps


Table of Results:

Species	5589	5590	5588	5587	Grand Total
Agapostemon virescens	2	1	1		4
Apis mellifera			2		2
Augochlorella aurata	24	4	1	5	34
Ceratina dupla	2	2	5	3	12
Halictus ligatus/poeyi	2	11	5	6	24
Lasioglossum bruneri			1		1
Lasioglossum coreopsis	2			11	13
Lasioglossum nymphaearum				1	1
Lasioglossum rohweri	1	3		1	5
Lasioglossum tegulare	1	3			4
Lasioglossum viridatum group		2	2	2	6
Melissodes bimaculata	2		1		3
Melissodes comptoides			1	2	3
Melissodes desponsa	2		2		4
Peponapis pruinosa	1				1
Ptilothrix bombiformis		2			2
Sphecodes sp.			1		1
Triepeolus cressonii		1			1
Grand Total	39	29	22	31	121

A set of high quality bee fields. Note that there are 3 species of Melissodes present along with one of their uncommon nest parasites (Triepeolus cressonii). Again we have the refuge bee Ptilothrix bombiformis here on the refuge, reflecting the native mallows in the brackish and fresh water portions of the marshes. Number of individuals and species totals fall within what would be expected from the region.

sam and leo

Where the Yellow-crown'd heron comes to the edge of the marsh
at night and feeds upon small crabs;

- Walt Whitman