Modifying Insect Habitats

Beneficial insect nesting and overwintering habitats (beetle banks and stem nesting bee huts) were installed at three sites in Washington County. The purpose of this project was to investigate the effect of beetle banks and native bee stem huts on insect abundance and species richness. During a citizen science field day Nov. 4th 2019, overwintering insects were counted at 36 beetle banks and 36 stem nesting bee huts. Beetle banks had an average of 131 insects per sample, compared to 1 insect per sample in control plots including both adult and larvae. The most abundant beetle bank insects were millipedes, spiders, staphylinid, dermestid and sowbugs. 95% of the stem nesting bee huts were occupied (details to come).

A field day was held on Nov 2, 2019 at St.Croix Regional Park, Washington Co Parks, with Dan Mc Swain Natural Resources coordinator. near Stillwater, MN. Around 30 people attended the Field Day and learned about beetle banks and stem nesting bees.research that determined that beetle banks in the field are a way to conserve good insects. Research showed that  hanging stem nesting attracts and accrues stem nesters and around 75% of the stems were occupied in one year.

Research: In 2019 Beetle bumps, which are overwintering ground areas for bees and beneficial insects, and hanging bee nests, were installed at 3 sites: 2 in Stillwater, MN at St Croix Bluffs Park with the help of Dan MacSwain, Natural Resources Coordinator and Washington County Parks; and 1 site in Hastings, MN at Laurie Schneider, Pollinator Friendly Alliance. The first insect count in Feb 2019 revealed that the BEB contained more beneficial insects than on the bare ground. Beetle bumps need to be added to restorations, parks, backyards and gardens to provide habitat for good bugs and bees.

Outreach: St. Croix Regional Parks is a model for other park systems to integrate beetle bumps and hanging nest in their habitat restoration and wild areas.  Counts clearly demonstrate beneficial insects used the beetle bumps for overwintering and nesting thus increasing populations of good bugs and predatory insects to naturally control unwanted insects and increase biodiversity. The beetle bump project was visually engaging for 10,000’s of park visitors who were curious and learned about them. Washington County Parks integrated the beetle bumps and bee huts into their public educational and naturalist programs. In March, 2020, a fact sheet and talk will be presented at the Best Practices for Pollinators Summit in Minneapolis, Minnesota for 400 state, county, local and private industry land managers.

Partnerships: Washington County Park System serves 40,000 visitors each year. Their park and naturalist educators are now including beetle bumps in their public education programming. Xerces Society is promoting beetle bumps as a tool for rural and urban spaces. This research will support their outreach efforts with farmers, rural, and urban people. Pollinator Friendly Alliance, Washington Conservation District and Board of Soil & Water Resources is including beetle bump suggestions in information tailored for Minnesota’s Lawns to Legumes incentive program to convert turf to biodiverse pollinator habitat.