An Investigation of Wild Bee Diversity and Abundance in Plots Managed by The Nature Conservancy in South-Central Nebraska and of Beneficial Arthropods Associated with Native Nebraska Flora

Habitat management and enhancement are proven ways to encourage native bee populations by providing them with food and nesting resources. I examined the bee diversity and abundance in twenty-four plots managed by The Nature Conservancy near Wood River, NE. The plots were seeded with two seed mixes at two seeding rates. I tested the null hypothesis that the seeding treatments would not affect the diversity of bees found in the plots. I measured the wild bee abundance and diversity, and established a data base of wild bees associated with the plots. In 2008, genus richness of bees was recorded for the plots using an aerial net collection method. In 2009, genus richness and abundance were compared among the plots using blue vane traps (SpringStar TM ). I did not observe significant differences in bee genus richness and diversity among the plots; however, plot size and the ability of blue vane traps to draw bees from a long distance may have limited my ability to detect differences. There were 15 genera and 95 bees collected total in 2008 and 32 genera and 6,103 bees collected in 2009.