PolliNation Podcast

This week, we catch up with Sam Droege with the US Geological Survey and Clare Maffei with US Fish and Wildlife Service to discuss the origins and evolution of the Bee Lab and its role as a support hub for bee biodiversity work. Sam describes shifting from designing national monitoring programs for birds and other taxa to pollinators, finding bee monitoring statistically difficult due to high year-to-year variance and identification bottlenecks, and pivoting to developing sampling techniques, the Very Handy Bee Manual, Discover Life online ID guides, photography resources, and a large specimen database with substantial backlog. Claire outlines her path through a US Fish and Wildlife Service pollinator fellowship into a refuge-support role, producing updated bee inventory/monitoring frameworks and protocols, data management, and publishing over 500,000 records to GBIF. Together they emphasize collaboration with students, refuges, parks, and researchers, training via weekly livestreamed bee ID videos, and ongoing method development (e.g., emergence trapping, brine in traps, hanging shrub traps) while noting funding uncertainty and focusing on practical conservation through plant–bee relationships and better baseline data. Bee Lab website: https://www.usgs.gov/centers/eesc/science/usgs-bee-lab-eastern-ecological-science-center

Dr. Bryan Danforth of Cornell University joins the podcast to discuss a new Apidology study led by Steven Hodge on emergence dynamics and host–parasite associations in a massive cemetery nesting aggregation of the solitary bee Andrena regularis. Using emergence traps checked daily for 40 days at East Lawn Cemetery near Cornell, the team estimated a mean population size of 5.5 million emerging bees within a compact area and documented synchronized host emergence with more gradual, delayed emergence by Nomada cuckoo bees, plus low-frequency associates including a meloid beetle and a conopid fly. Danforth explains A. regularis biology and its exceptional importance and effectiveness as an apple pollinator, highlights evidence for greater female investment as a potential sign of abundant resources, and argues cemeteries and other nest sites may be overlooked conservation assets, supported by Cornell's Ground-Nesting Bees iNaturalist initiative. Danforth Lab: https://www.danforthlab.entomology.cornell.edu GNBees: https://www.gnbee.org Hoge, S.T., Kueneman, J.G., Fordyce, R., Dobler, C., Odanaka, K. and Danforth, B.N., 2026. Emergence dynamics and host-parasite associations in a large aggregation of Andrena regularis (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Andrenidae). Apidologie, 57(2), p.29. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13592-026-01256-6?cjdata=MXxZfDB8WXww&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=commission_junction&utm_campaign=CONR_BOOKS_ECOM_GL_PBOK_06YUE_GL_ALWYS_DEEPLINK&utm_content=textlink&utm_term=PID100052570&CJEVENT=684ba1913cbf11f182b202450a18b8fc 00:00 Bee Numbers In Perspective 00:53 Solitary Bee Megasites 01:14 Meet Dr Brian Danforth 05:13 Cemetery Nesting Twist 06:14 Bee Biology And Pollination 08:54 Why Cemeteries Work 12:27 Biodiversity And History 14:00 Emergence Traps Method 16:34 Parasites And Phenology 21:07 Sex Ratios And Health 24:04 Millions Of Bees Estimated 26:44 Conservation and iNaturalist 28:38 Can We Build Bee Beds

Wasps are an often underappreciated and underdiscussed pollinator group. In today's episode, we will dive into their fascinating world. We'll define what exactly a wasp is, the diversity of wasps around the world, their specialized hunting skills, and far beyond. Sloan Tomlinson is a science communicator, insect photographer, and regulatory contributor to wasp educational programs. Check out That Wasp Guy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatwaspguy/ Visit the UMass Extension pollinator resources page: ag.umass.edu/pollinators

Log landings serve as a unique way to provision habitat in otherwise closed-canopy forests, providing refuge for wild bees and wasps. UMass Amherst PhD candidate Aliza Fassler unpacks her research on seeding log landings with native plants, and speaks to the pollinator assemblages that use them. Learn more about Aliza's research in this technical report: https://t.ly/gM2hR Visit the UMass Extension pollinator resources page: ag.umass.edu/pollinators

Thyra Mckelvie joins PolliNation to discuss managing blue orchard bees (mason bees). Thyra is the Managing Director and Solitary Bee Educator at Rent Mason Bees. She outlines three essential care steps: start with clean, openable nesting material of proper size, remove nests at the end of spring to protect developing bees from summer predators, and harvest/clean cocoons in fall to control pests and disease. In addition, Thyra covers the key pests of mason bees include pollen mites, Houdini flies, chalkbrood fungus, and monodontomerus wasps, plus sterilization methods. Rent Mason Bees website: https://rentmasonbees.com Rent Mason Bees YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RentMasonBees Houdini Fly Hunt - report if you have Houdini Flies: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScwkcEVe6CfNoaoTDcSlXmIpX0HYUTmhOsZJihPvn8rCXNn8A/viewform?pli=1 00:00 Welcome to Mason Bee Season 01:01 What Are Blue Orchard Bees 02:39 Gentle Bees for Schools 04:06 Bee Hotels Need Maintenance 05:42 Avoid Bamboo and Log Hotels 07:01 Three Steps to Protect Cocoons 11:49 Predators and Parasites Explained 12:05 Inside a Nesting Chamber 13:09 Pollen Mites and Houdini Fly 16:02 Chalkbrood and Monodontomerus Wasps 18:33 Cleaning and Sterilizing Trays 19:56 Sterilize Nesting Trays 20:20 Spot Houdini Fly Signs 20:41 Cardboard Liner Hack 21:22 Spring Cleanup Routine 21:56 Vacuuming and Tanglefoot 22:43 Join Houdini Fly Research 24:11 Bee Emergence Timeline 25:13 Remove and Store Blocks 26:16 Summer Storage Tips 27:55 Fall Harvest and Washing 29:54 Dispose Pests Safely 30:27 Releasing From Old Materials 32:48 Rent Mason Bees Explained 34:52 Wrap Up and Thanks

As the 300th episode approached Dr. Melathopoulos started to get nervous. He had been doing the show since 2018. When his podcasting hero Melvyn Bragg hung up his podcasting mic last year, Dr. Melathopoulos wondered if he should do the same. But no. Polli-Nation is officially outgrowing its borders! While the show's roots are at OSU Extension, we are thrilled to welcome a new collaborative hosting team. By bringing in the expertise of Nicole Bell (East Coast/UMass), and Drs. Brandon Hopkins and Priya Chakrabarti Basu (WSU), we are expanding our coverage from the wild bee meadows of New England to the high-tech honey bee storage facilities of the Pacific Northwest. Hear the different hosts visions for the future of pollination in this episode. Nicole Bell – UMass Amherst Extension: https://www.umass.edu/bee-campus/about/directory/nicole-bell The Pollinator Steward Certification: https://www.umass.edu/agriculture-food-environment/resources/pollinators/pollinator-steward-certification-program Dr. Brandon Hopkins – Washington State University Lab Page: https://bees.wsu.edu/about-hopkins-lab/ Dr. Priya Chakrabarti (Basu) – Washington State University Research Website: https://priyadarshinichakrabarti.com Harry Vanderpool – Hear our episode with Harry: https://youtu.be/CSiDXLmgxjU?si=D796BGDFkSUMMT59 00:00 Nicole Bell - episode highlight 00:25 Podcast Origins and Growth 01:45 Episode 300 New Era 03:09 Meet Nicole Bell 06:04 Meet Brandon Hopkins 08:48 Meet Priya Chakrabarti 10:49 Harry Vanderpool Updates 14:30 Co-Hosts Vision Ahead

In this episode Dr. Melathopoulos speaks with Dr. Armando Falcon-Brindis, assistant professor and extension specialist in entomology at the University of Idaho's Parma Research and Extension Center and director of the Parma Cocoon Testing Center. Dr. Falcon-Brindis explains why alfalfa leafcutter bees are far more effective than honey bees at pollinating alfalfa seed and describes how the lab uses X-ray imaging to assess cocoon health by counting live larvae, dead cells, pollen balls, machine damage, predators, parasites, and signs of pathogens, with follow-up dissections when needed. He details grower sampling methods, recommended bee release rates, and sex-ratio testing, then outlines new program efforts including a demonstration pollinator garden, field-based IPM trainings, and modernization of diagnostics with digital X-ray and other technologies. University of Idaho Faculty Profile: https://www.uidaho.edu/people/afalconbrindis Parma Research and Extension Center: https://www.uidaho.edu/idaho-ag-experiment-station/centers/parma 00:00 X-Ray Cocoon Clues 01:12 Podcast And Guest Intro 02:48 New Extension Role 05:22 Why Leafcutters Win 08:14 Cocoon Center Basics 11:28 X-Ray Diagnostics 14:28 Using Results For Rates 19:35 Sampling And Reports 23:09 New Programs And Tech 27:44 Pollinator Garden Impact

Dr. Melathopoulos talks with Dr. Hannah Gaines-Day (University of Wisconsin–Madison) about WiBee (W-I-B-E-E), an app created after conversations with Wisconsin apple growers who wanted to know whether wild bees provide enough pollination or if honeybee rentals are needed. The app has users stand still and record insect visits in a standardized 3x3-foot area for five minutes, tallying easy-to-identify functional "morpho groups" (honeybee, bumblebee, large dark, small dark, green bee, and non-bees) while also logging weather, habitat, and flower abundance. Validation work compared Wibee visitation rates with pollen deposition in apple and cranberry, finding a tight relationship in cranberry but not apple due to pollen source ambiguity; a follow-up will test relationships with fruit set, and pumpkin data are pending. Wibee has been widely adopted by Master Gardeners, has generated about 15,000 publicly viewable surveys, and may be compared with camera-based monitoring in future work. Essential Links: WiBee Official Website: pollinators.wisc.edu/wibee The Gratton Lab: gratton.entomology.wisc.edu Hannah Gaines-Day - Faculty Profile: https://entomology.wisc.edu/directory/hannah-gaines-day/ 00:00 Bee Survey Setup 00:53 Podcast Intro 01:24 Meet Hannah Gaines-Day 02:27 Why Bee ID Matters 03:31 Wisconsin Crops Focus 04:30 Wibee Morpho Groups 06:16 Functional Group Logic 07:53 How To Use Wibee 10:06 Sampling Strategy Tips 10:59 Validation Experiments 13:37 Apple Vs Cranberry Results 16:14 Beyond Wisconsin Use 18:22 Citizen Science Adoption 20:30 Pollination Threshold Goals 23:02 Future Tech Comparisons

In this episode of Pollination, host Dr. Andony Melathopoulos talks with Dr. Elizabeth Murray ( Mt. James Entomological Collection, Washington State University) about pollen wasps (Masarinae) and how they represent a rare, parallel shift to bees from carnivory to provisioning young with pollen. The conversation covers pollen wasp origins around 125 million years ago alongside bees, likely in arid Western Gondwana as angiosperms rose, their global but dry-region-biased distribution, low species diversity ( 00:00 Gondwana Origins Teaser 00:58 Podcast Intro And Guest 02:22 Inside The Entomology Collection 03:49 Why Collections Matter 05:27 Growing The Collection 06:52 What Are Pollen Wasps 09:04 Angiosperms And Shared Origins 11:00 Reverting Back To Carnivory 12:40 Where They Live And Diversity 15:49 Life History Compared To Bees 18:07 How They Carry And Pollinate 19:21 Nests And Plant Hosts 23:31 Research And Conservation Questions

Christine McDonald discusses her family-run beekeeping operation based in Terrace, British Columbia. Living in a remote area, Christine emphasizes the importance of in-person gatherings for bee education despite the proliferation of online resources. She explains how her family has turned geographical challenges into strengths, mentioning their diverse range of products, including honey and candles, and their reliance on wild forage like fireweed. Christine highlights the seasonal challenges they face, such as preparing colonies for winter and managing a short beekeeping season. She also elaborates on their approach to raising queens and maintaining their operation's sustainability. Additionally, Christine's Instagram presence has become a pivotal part of connecting with the wider beekeeping community. Rushing River Apiaries: https://www.rushingriverapiaries.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rushingriverapiaries/

This week, we talk with Ryan Lieuallen of Sweet Bee Honey Company in Milton-Freewater, Oregon. Ryan shares insights into the significant challenges and changes within the beekeeping industry, including high winter mortality rates and the potential economic impacts of the Tropi mite infestation. We discuss the emergence of new Varroa treatments and innovative strategies for creating sustainable bee pastures for bees. Explore Ryan's dedication to maintaining a five-generation beekeeping heritage while adapting to future challenges in beekeeping and sustainable agriculture. Link to Sweet Bee Honey Company and how to donate to the Bee Foundation: https://www.sweetbeehoneyco.com

In this episode of the podcast, Dr. Zach Portman discusses a new paper addressing the problem of ghost records in bee data. These records often lack physical specimens, creating challenges for verifying data of bee species. Dr. Portman explains the process and complications behind collecting and verifying bee data, emphasizing the importance of preserving specimens. The conversation also delves into the implications of ghost records for conservation efforts and taxonomy, proposing that funding agencies should require proper storage plans for collected specimens. Links: Portman, Z.M., Bruninga-Socolar, B., Chase, M.H., Harrison, T., Arduser, M., Tepedino, V.J. and Cariveau, D.P., 2025. Big data, changing taxonomy, and ghost records: permanent preservation of collected specimens is essential for insect monitoring. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 118(4), pp.331-345: https://academic.oup.com/aesa/article/118/4/331/8197915 https://www.zportman.com

Pollinator Pathway is a national organization dedicated to the establishment of native plant communities for pollinators that are managed without pesticides. It got started in the Western US in Bend, Oregon and this week we hear from two board members, Gwen Bartonek and Lisa Sanco, about the many activities the organization has pulled off in Oregon's High Desert city. Pollinator Pathway Bend: https://pollinatorpathwaybend.org/

Hover flies are everywhere—but most of us don't even notice them. This week on PolliNation, OSU graduate student Nina Miller unpacks the fascinating world of these bee look-alikes, from their diverse life histories to simple ways you can invite them into your garden. OSU Garden Ecology Lab: https://gardenecology.oregonstate.edu/

It's festival season! If you're near Portland or Vancouver, WA, you won't want to miss the Vancouver Pollinator Festival happening this Saturday, June 21st at Marshall Park. Our guest, Kyle Roslund, founder of the Vancouver Bee Project, joins us to share what's in store—from garden tours and hands-on activities to a talk by renowned lepidopterist and Xerces Society founder, Dr. Robert Michael Pyle. Pollinator Festival info: https://pollinatorfestival.org/

This week we delve into the fascinating world of bee communities in disturbed forests with Dr. Graham Frank, a recent PhD graduate from Oregon State University. Dr. Frank shares key insights about how bee communities are influenced by different types of disturbances, and what this means for forest management. Frank, G.S., Rivers, J.W., Verschuyl, J., Best, L.R., Betts, M.G., Kroll, A.J., Swanson, M.E. and Krawchuk, M.A., 2025. Comparison of Early Seral Forest Bee Communities Following Clearcutting or Wildfire Depends on Stand Age and Nesting Guild. Journal of Forestry, pp.1-45. Link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44392-025-00016-1

In this episode of the Commercial Beekeeping Zone on PolliNation, we hear from Curtis Miedema, a second generation beekeeper from Barhead, Alberta, and President of North America's only beekeeper's commission. Curtis shares insights into stationary beekeeping and how he fits queen production into an operation focused on honey production. He also discusses the collaborative nature of the Alberta beekeeping community and the role of the Alberta Beekeepers Commission. Links: https://miedemahoney.com https://www.albertabeekeepers.ca

We hear from Lincoln Best and August Jackson from Oregon State University this week about an initiative to inventory the bees of National Wildlife Refuges in Region 1 by Master Melittologist volunteers. Link to year 1 report: https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/technical_reports/xd07h2826

The attention to California almonds, means the pollination of Washington State tree fruits is often overlooked. But the massive pollination effort in Washington is a huge effort and may be facing potential problems. Harry and Andony catch up with commercial beekeeper Tim Hiatt to discuss tree fruit pollination, as well as Tim's efforts to advocate for beekeeping in the Washington legislature.

This week on PolliNation Itai Kanot and Shelbi Perkins from BeeHero discuss how their in-hive and in-field sensors are improving pollination efficiency by providing real-time data on bee colony strength, benefiting both growers and beekeepers. BeeHero: https://www.beehero.io/