Wildlife Biology Pollinators Flashcards :D

Honey bee

Identification:

• ½ inch long

• Hairy yellow thorax, black and yellow abdomen

• Hind legs hold clusters of pollen

Habitat/Behavior:

• Highly adaptable, found in most habitats Live in colonies with complex social structures

Conservation Status:

-Introduced from Europe in the 1700s, used for honey production and agriculture

-Populations have been declining

-Threatened by colony collapse disorder and mites

Common Eastern Bumble Bee

Identification:

-⅓-3 inch long, large

-Hairy yellow thorax, black spot in the center

-Hairy black abdomen

Habitat/Behavior:

-Found in woodlands, fields, and suburbs

-Vibrate their wings to gather pollen

-Generalists, feed on many flower species

Conservation Status:

-Least Concern (IUCN Red List)

-Important pollinator of commercial crops

Yellow bumble bee

Identification:

-½-3 inch long, large

-Yellow thorax, black band between the wings

-Hairy yellow abdomen with a black tip

Habitat/Behavior:

-Found in open fields and suburbs

-Fast foragers, can visit 40 flowers per minute

-Use coordinated attacks to defend their nests

Conservation Status:

-Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)

-High Priority Species (NYSEC)

-Threatened by habitat loss and pesticide use

Eastern Carpenter Bee

Identification:

-About 1 inch long, large

-Yellow thorax, small black spot in the center

-Hairless, shiny black abdomen

Habitat/Behavior:

-Found in forests and forest edges

-Build nests by tunnelling into wood

-Not very social, live in small groups that are not structured like colonies

Conservation Status:

-Currently not threatened

Spring Beauty Mining Bee

Identification:

-⅓ inch long, small

-Black overall with a hairy thorax

-Typically covered in pink pollen

Habitat/Behavior:

-Solitary, build individual nests by burrowing underground

-Specialists, only visit flowers in the genus Claytonia (spring beauties)

Conservation Status:

-Currently not threatened

Cuckoo Bees

Identification:

-¼-½ inch long, small

-Hairless, typically black and yellow

-Have a narrow "waist" between their thorax and abdomen, similar to wasps

Habitat/Behavior:

-Parasites, lay eggs in the nests of other bees

-When these eggs hatch, the parasitic larvae kill the host's larvae, then use the nest's resources

Conservation Status:

-Currently not threatened

Bicolored Sweat Bee

Identification:

-¼-½ inch long, small

-Metallic green thorax and head

-Black abdomen, males have yellow stripes and females have white stripes

Habitat/Behavior:

-Build nests by burrowing underground

-Typically solitary, but females nest in groups with one bee serving as a guard

Conservation Status:

Currently not threatened

Hoplitis Mason Bees

Identification:

-¼ inch long, very small

-Black overall, pale stripes on the abdomen

-Thick abdominal hairs for gathering pollen

Habitat/Behavior:

-Solitary, live in tree hollows or other cavities

-Build complex nests by surrounding their eggs with plant material, soil, or rocks

Conservation Status:

-Currently not threatened

Flower Flies

Identification:

-Usually ¼-½ inch long, small

-Black-and-yellow striped abdomen

-Differ from bees because they have very large eyes, short antennae, and only one pair of wings

Habitat/Behavior:

-Feed on nectar and pollen

-"Hover" in midair while searching for food, nest sites, or defending their territory

Conservation Status:

-Currently not threatened

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth

Identification:

-1.5-2 inch wingspan, large

-Olive above, black and white below

-Clear wings with reddish veins and borders

-Round, furry body that resembles hummingbirds

Habitat/Behavior:

-Found in forests and suburbs

-Hover near flowers and extend their tongue-like proboscis to extract nectar

Conservation Status:

-Currently not threatened

Monarch Butterfly

Identification:

-3-4 inch wingspan, very large

-Orange wings with black veins and white-spotted borders

Habitat/Behavior:

-Caterpillars feed exclusively on milkweed species -Undergo a multigenerational migration, spending winter in the tropics

Conservation Status:

-Vulnerable (IUCN)

-Threatened by habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change

Painted Lady

Identification:

-2-3 inch wingspan

-Wings reddish orange with black spots; tips of forewings black with white spots; brown body

-Underside of hindwings are brown with small eyespots

Habitat/Behavior:

-One of the most widespread butterfly species

-Long distance migrant found in NY from July to September

Conservation Status:

-Least Concern (IUCN)

Common Milkweed

Identification:

-3-5 feet tall

-Oval-shaped, wavy leaves with reddish veins

-Flowers are large clusters of pink florets

-Seed pods are tubular and have a rough texture

Habitat/Characteristics:

-Found in open areas, such as fields

-Blooms from June to August

-Important food source for hundreds of insects

Conservation Status:

-Currently not threatened

Hemp Dogbane

Identification:

-2-5 feet tall

-Spear-shaped leaves, white hairs underneath

-Flowers are small clusters of white florets

-Distinct red stems

Habitat/Characteristics:

-Grows in shaded areas, such as woodlands

-Blooms from May to July

-Highly toxic to mammals

Conservation Status:

-Currently not threatened

Purple Violet

Identification:

-Up to 8 inches tall

-Heart-shaped leaves with serrated edges

-Large purple flowers, 5 petals arranged in a starlike shape

Habitat/Characteristics:

-Grows in wet soil, found in fields or marshes

-Begins blooming in May

-Host plant for several specialist mining bees

Conservation Status:

-Currently not threatened

White Clover

Identification:

-4-6 inches tall

-Each leaf is made of 3 round leaflets, arranged in a triangular pattern

-Spherical white flower heads with many florets

Habitat/Characteristics:

-Found in open areas, common lawn plant

-Blooms from May to September

-Favored by many bumble bee species

Conservation Status:

-Least Concern (IUCN Red List)

Common Dandelion

Identification:

-2-6 inches tall

-Long leaves with deeply toothed edges

-Round yellow flowers with many petals

-Wind-blown seeds are arranged in "puffs"

Habitat/Characteristics:

-Found in open areas, common lawn plant

-Blooms from May to October

-Important food source for insects waking from dormancy in the spring

Conservation Status:

-Least Concern (IUCN Red List)

Chicory

Identification:

-Up to 5 feet tall

-Round blue flowers with straight, boxy petals

-Long leaves with jagged edges

Habitat/Characteristics:

-Found in open areas, such as overgrown fields

-Blooms from June until the first frost in fall

-Flowers close up around noon, and only last for a few days before falling off

Conservation Status:

-Least Concern (IUCN Red List)

Goldenrod

Identification:

-Up to 5-8 feet tall

-Small, golden-yellow flower heads with petals radiating around a central disc

-Flowers in dense clusters along branched stems

-Smooth, narrow, pointed leaves

Habitat/Characteristics:

-Often grow in full sun

-Bloom from around July to September

Conservation Status:

-Least Concern (IUCN Red List)

Wild Bergamot

Identification:

-2-4 feet tall

-Flower heads are made of tubular pink florets, with a downturned "lip" hanging from each one

-Spear-shaped leaves with serrated edges

Habitat/Characteristics:

-Found in fields and forest edges

-Blooms from June to September

-Host plant for several specialist bees and moths

Conservation Status:

-Currently not threatened