Ant Ayers 🐜

#Toronto residents! What do you know about #bees? Let researchers know by responding to this brief survey gauging public perceptions of bees and their conservation in the city. Appreciate all that take the time to participate and/or spread the word! yorkufoh.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5s…

@jscottmacivor @TOnuferko Interesting! I know I saw some observations on iNat in New York so I’m not surprised I suppose. I manage to find two more females in the same area but no males.

I believe this may be Pseudoanthidium nanum which was found on York U campus. Would I correct with this ID? If so, do either of you know when this species may have arrived in Ontario? I saw there was a potential observation last year in Hamilton on inat @jscottmacivor @TOnuferko

@TOnuferko @jscottmacivor @zachportman I also observed another female earlier today on burdock (not a super reliable image and vid I’ll perhaps admit). One of the postdocs in our lab also collected another specimen from the same plant.

@beekind2thebugs @jscottmacivor I think you're right, but I haven't seen physical specimens of this species before, not from Canada or elsewhere. We'll certainly keep our eyes peeled for additional representatives in the area. @zachportman, can you please confirm the ID?

@KodanakaBees Really sick!

Found a really cool gynandromorph today! Bidentate with black scape and black scutellum points to the male half being N. bella

I've been inspired by @cgwilson25 to post more bee pictures on here! So, here's a male Pseudomacrotera turgiceps I collected in Joshua Tree (with permits) in 2022. The head size of males is variable in this species, but most seem to have a large head like this specimen.

Conducting a survey to gauge Toronto's perceptions of bees and their involvement in actions to promote their diversity within the city. Looking for as many responses as possible from Toronto residents of ALL backgrounds. Please share! @sanrehan @BeesYork yorkufoh.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5s…

Native and exotic plants play different roles in urban pollination networks across seasons dlvr.it/ShNf4N

@BugEric Thank you!!!

More Scoliid sketches

Look at the wonky antennae on this male Dialictus. Working on an ID currently

Little scoliid (Dielis plumipes) I scribbled using my laptops trackpad. It was hell

New paper just published: "A novel farmland wildflower seed mix attracts a greater abundance and richness of pollinating insects than standard mixes" Access here: doi.org/10.1111/icad.1…

yes, please do enlighten me. email me at smalldickenergy@getalife.com

Caught this Atomosia puella over the summer during the peak of my robber fly kick (that honestly never ended). Had never seen this sp before so I thought it was a cool find. Unfortunately, I don’t know much about this genus. Pretty small fly tho. Tried my best with this photo lol

Excited about my first co-authored paper with BUGS Lab @jscottmacivor and @cwdekeyzer, published today in @PeerJLife! Check it out to learn about the establishment of non-native bee species in Canada: peerj.com/articles/14216 #Biogeography #ConservationBiology #Ecology #Entomology

New paper with @jscottmacivor, @cwdekeyzer, and @madi_marshall1 reporting on the establishment and range expansion of Osmia cornifrons and O. taurus in Canada: doi.org/10.7717/peerj.…

@lrusso08 @Ologies This would be so good. I second this idea!

@Ologies Palynology!

WE’VE GOT ONE RULE

Hot off the press: An impressive taxonomic review of the metallic green halictids from Middle America by @zachportman: zookeys.pensoft.net/article/86413/…