The eleventh stop on the Bee Trail can be found beside parking lot H, near to the Ron Joyce Stadium. The site includes five native bee homes, which were installed in 2019 as part of the 100in1Day community event. The homes are constructed from pine wood and filled with paper tubes, giving a secure home to the local pollinators. The homes were set up by Facility Services and the Academic Sustainability Program’s Office to support native bee populations and promote sustainability.

 

Fun Fact:  Ontario is home to around 420 species of bees, making it one of Canada’s top regions for bee diversity! While not all are common on farms, many are essential for pollinating crops. (1)

 

Species Highlight: The Two-spotted Bumble bee species is a medium-tongued pollinator that nests on or below ground, with workers active in summer and queens active from spring to fall. Its distinctive yellow “W” shape on the second abdominal segment and vital role in pollinating plants like thistles and goldenrods make it a key player in its ecosystem. (2)

Local Native Bee Spotlight: The Two-spotted Bumble Bee (Bombus bimaculatus) is a local species of bumble bee bee found in our area!

 

References:

1. Chan S, Raine N. Introduction to Native Pollinators on Farms in Ontario [Internet]. Farms at Work. 2018. Available from: https://farmsatwork.ca/sites/default/files/Fact%20Sheet%20%231%20Introduction%20to%20Native%20Pollinators%20on%20Ontario%20Farms_1.pdf
2. two-spotted bumble bee [Internet]. dnr.illinois.gov. Available from: https://dnr.illinois.gov/education/wildaboutpages/wildaboutinvertebrates/wildaboutnativebees/family-apidae/wabwtwospottedbumblebee.html