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Hi, I would like to obtai... #624469

Asked April 15, 2020, 8:32 PM EDT

Hi, I would like to obtain a list of all the bee species in Ohio (genus + species). I have seen online identification documents with bees grouped by genus, but I have not seen a list of the specific bees that live in Ohio. Can you please provide me with that? I recently learned that several bees are specialists, and I want to research which plants Ohio's bees need. If a list matching Ohio's bees to their plants exists, I would also appreciate having that. Thank you, Jennifer Howell

Stark County Ohio

Expert Response

You will find many resources (too many to list) available through Ohio State U. Bee Lab at https://u.osu.edu/beelab/
Under the Ohio Links section, click on "OSU factsheets, ID guides and bulletins" to find this id card that uses color outlines to show group classification for each listed bee  at: Ohio Bee ID Card free PDF
Ohio Bee ID guide
https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/OhioBeeGuideFINAL.pdf
and
https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/ENT-57
Specialist bees of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States (including host plants), Droege and Fowler
There is a separate heading for "Plants."

Hi Carolyn,
Thank you for your reply. I looked at the links you sent to me, and they are good resources, but not what I'm looking for. What I would like to do is find or make a table similar to the one found at this website. http://jarrodfowler.com/specialist_bees.html
This table does not include data for Ohio bees. I want to find out which Ohio bees are pollen specialists so I can educate others on which plants to plant and also include these plants in my garden. To do so, I need a list of Ohio bees with genus + species, since particular species within a genus can vary as to which plants they specialize on. I read that there are about 500 species of bees in Ohio. Do you know how I can obtain a list of these species?
The Question Asker Replied April 16, 2020, 12:32 PM EDT
Hi Jennifer,
I've included contact information for native bee specialists at OSU to assist you in your research, "to create a table similar to the one" on the Fowler-Droge website. Your request is very specific; it sounds like academic work. The document you cite is a literature review. I suggest you contact the authors as to their methodology to create a table with data for Ohio bees. Email: <personal data hidden> and/or  Sam Droge Email: <personal data hidden>

To obtain a detailed list of Ohio bees, with detail on genus and species, you may want to contact an entomologist at OSU. Here are several.

You may find more information about native bees in Ohio if you contact:
Mary M. Gardiner, Professor and Graduate Studies Chair, Department of Entomology,
The Ohio State University.  
<personal data hidden>

"The Gardiner Lab studies the ecology of urban greenspaces. "Explore the resources available from the pull down tabs listed on the website
https://u.osu.edu/gardinerlab/

"How to Identify and Enhance Ohio’s Wild Bees in Your Landscape"
 https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/u.osu.edu/dist/c/47275/files/2019/06/Entomology-85-2019-0524.pdf
 
Also consider contacting Denise Ellsworth at the OSU Bee Lab.
<personal data hidden> 

Check out the citizen science project, Ohio Bee Atlas, from the OSU Bee Lab resources at https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/ohio-bee-atlas

How to Identify and Enhance Ohio’s Wild Bees in Your Landscape  https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/ent-85

OSU factsheets and bulletins

Denise Ellsworth
1680 Madison Ave.Wooster, OH 44691
Phone:<personal data hidden><personal data hidden>
Department of Entomology

If you have trouble accessing this page and need to request an alternate format, contact <personal data hidden>

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Thank you for all the information!
The Question Asker Replied April 20, 2020, 3:25 PM EDT
You're welcome!
Good luck!

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