May 23, 2010
Bees and Trees: How Insects and Trees Interrelate at Fresh Pond
Left Photo - Program participants sat at the Maynard Ecology Center Patio and listened to Ranger Jean Rogers explain the process of pollination. Cross pollination (allogamy) occurs when pollen is transferred to a different plant. Pollination (fertilization) can occur by wind, water, but the most common pollinators are animals (bats, birds, ants, bees/wasps, beetles, butterflies/moths, and flies) with insects predominating. Images (visual aids) were used to help participants better understand the process of bee fertilization. When a worker bee lands on a flower, it searches for, then drinks, nectar. As it feeds, pollen from the anthers sticks to the soft hairs on the bees' body. When the bee feeds on another plant's flower, the process of fertilization begins as the the stigma receives the pollen.
Middle Photo - Program participants walked to the beehive located in Neville Woods. Participants viewed the beehive located in Neville Woods, then walked downthe Beech Path to Perimeter Road and stopped at the edge of Lucitania Meadow. There are two beekeepers who maintain the two beehives at Fresh Pond. Peter (third from left, pointing) describes the beehive structure, bee behavior (worker, drone, queen, et al) and hive activities to participants. Jeremy Angier is the other beekeeper (not shown).
Right Photo - Here is a close up of Lucitania Meadow's beehive which is maintained by Jeremy Angier. Peter maintains the beehive in Neville Woods. The bees at Fresh Pond Reservation are not aggressive, therefore it is highly unlikely that they will sting.
Description and Photo by Carol Collura