Save Ohio Bees

Who's busy in June? Squash bees! Squash bees (Peponapis pruinosa) are essential pollinators that depend exclusively on cucurbit plants (pumpkins, squash, and gourds) for pollen and nectar.

Females dig solitary vertical tunnels for nesting, directly under the foliage of squash plants. These nesting chambers can be up to two feet deep. Basically, they nest where they eat.

Squash bees forage during the early morning when the blossoms open, and can often be found sleeping in the withered blossoms in the afternoon, like this 'lil dude.

Squash bees are three times more effective at pollinating zucchini and pumpkins than honey bees, and are able to visit far more flowers per minute.

Did you know that Ohio ranks among the top U.S. producers of pumpkins, with more than 7,000 acres dedicated to this beloved crop? Pumpkins in Ohio generate between $15 and $20 million each year, making squash bees essential to our farmers and state economy.

THANK YOU, SQUASH BEES!

How can we help squash bees?

First, no tilling. Because squash bee pupae overwinter in nests beneath the ground, deep tillage will destroy them. Gardeners and farmers should avoid deep tillage in vegetable patches or leave part of the field untilled for these babies.

Second, no pesticides. These soil-dwelling darlings are highly vulnerable to chemicals applied to the ground or plant bases.

It's World Bee Day! Did you know? There are about 4,000 species of wild bees in North America. That's 4X more than birds, and 10X more than mammals.

🐝 1 in 4 native bee species and 40% of pollinators globally are threatened with extinction.

🐝 28% of bumble bees are threatened. And, they are the most efficient pollinators in wild landscapes in North America.

That's why we do what we do.
You want the good news?

😍 70% of US land is privately owned.

Plant or GIVE today, and YOU can make a difference in Ohio!

1. Plant something - Get free guides and watch free "how-to" pollinator garden videos at saveohiobees.org/free-guides.

2. Give to our nonprofit - Every $1,000 raised restores at least one full acre with 28 species of native wildflowers. Visit saveohiobees.org/donate.

Thank you for taking action to restore pollinator habitat for the bees and all wild pollinators on World Bee Day!