The 2024 Great Southeast Pollinator Census is upon us. Counting our pollinators is super important and, you know what, counting them is way easier than you think. Give it a try and, let me tell you, it’s totally worth it.
On August 23rd and 24th community members across Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Florida will join to count pollinators as part of the sixth annual Great Southeast Pollinator Census (https://GSePC.org). Over the past three years over 35,000 counts were submitted! The goals of the project are to gather data on our pollinator insect population, to create sustainable pollinator habitat, and to increase entomological literacy around these insects.
The project is a natural fit for families who want to participate in insect conservation. Businesses are involved either by having their employees participate as a company outreach or by having events at the place of businesses to attract conservation-minded customers (like breweries or restaurants). Civic groups also enjoy participating. This project is perfect for schools doing STEAM work. Under the “educators” tab on the website teachers will find all the resources needed for their classrooms to successfully participate, including lesson plan links. Educational pieces are posted on the Southeast Pollinator Census Facebook page and the @SoutheastPollinators Instagram page. Students feel empowered to be a part of an important initiative.
Won’t you join us this year? We are protecting our pollinators one count at a time!
The counting instructions to guide you for participating in the census are given below:
Counting Instructions
- Choose a favorite pollinator plant for counting. This can be any blooming plant that shows insect activity.
- Count and categorize the insects that land on your plant. Count an insect each time it lands on your plant. Count for 15 minutes. The insect categories are:
- Bumble Bees
- Honey Bees
- Small Bees
- Carpenter Bees
- Wasps
- Flies
- Butterflies/Moths
- Other insects
- Upload your counts on the website (https://GSePC.org). You can also use the QR code below to update your counts on the website. The portal to upload counts will open on the first day of the counts. We do not have the ability to accept mailed paper forms.
- Post photos of your counters having fun, photos of your gardens, or anything you think would be of interest to the group on the Southeast Pollinator Census Facebook page
- Have questions about counting? Contact Becky Griffin at beckygri@uga.edu.
- Counting hint: Your cell phone camera makes a great magnifier.
How do I identify the pollinators?
Some of the common pollinator insects that you may see are illustrated below. Use the pictures and identification characteristics as your guide for counting and categorizing the pollinators.
1. Carpenter Bees (16 – 22 mm)
- Black body with yellow and black bands
- Dense hair on head and thorax
- NO HAIR on abdomen
- Broad head, thick body
- Males have yellow to white coloring on face, females all black on face
2. Bumble Bees (10 – 19 mm)
- Black body covered with dense yellow and black hair
- Fat bee with small head
- Large thorax and abdomen
- Hairy abdomen
3. Honey Bees ( 12 – 15 mm)
- Brown or black stripes on body
- Golden-brown hair covers abdomen
4. Small bees
- Leafcutter Bees, Sweat Bees and others
- Note: Keep a lookout for the metallic shine of the sweat bees. Even though these bees can be small, the metallic color is easy to spot when the sun is shining on them.
5. Wasps (13 – 25 mm)
- Can include: Potter Wasps, Paper Wasps and others.
- These are generally hairless.
- Many have very thin waists.
- No pollen gathering hairs.
- Long thin legs, often with spines.
6. Flies (6 – 13 mm)
- Have two wings instead of the four wings on bees and wasps
- Eyes are large and take up most of the face
- Small antenna
- Note: Some flies are bee mimics. They have bee-like coloring and will visit flowers. The large eyes and small antenna will confirm you see a fly.
7. Butterflies and moths
- Can include: Skippers, Gulf Fritillaries, Monarchs, Swallowtails, Common Spring Moth and others.
8. Other Insects
- Can include: Beetles, Dragonflies, Lacewings and others.
Source: The insect identification information included in this blog were obtained from a UGA Extension – Center For Urban Ag publication titled Great Southeast Pollinator Census – Insect Identification Guide prepared by Carsen Dean (Oconee County ANR Agent). The rest of the information were retrieved from the program website: https://GSePC.org
If you have any questions or comments on this blog, please reach out to me at vb94575@uga.edu or UGA Dougherty County Extension at uge4095@uga.edu or (229) 436-7216.
