Have you heard about the Great Southeast Pollinator Census (GSEPC)?  Gardeners may join the fun and help scientists identify pollinators, and their numbers along Florida’s nature coast. Scientists investigate how  pollinator populations are affected by weather and how honeybees influence native bee populations.  More than 80% of the world’s flowering plants require pollinator intervention (USDA webpost).

• When: 15 minutes, August 23rd or August 24th, 2024
• What:  Choose a plant that with insect activity. Viewing from one side is fine.
• How: Count and categorize the insects that land on the plant over a 15-minute period. Insect categories are bumble bees, honeybees, small bees, carpenter bees, wasps, flies, butterflies/moths, and other insects.
• The same insect may land multiple times. each landing. Log results on a counting sheet. Upload the counting results to https://gsepc.org/

GSEPC project goals include:

1) create sustainable pollinator habitat;

2) increase entomological literacy;

3) generate pollinator population data.

This external link https://gsepc.org/   offers: count sheet; previous census data by year, state and county; insect identification guide and frequently asked questions.

TIPS:

View the UGA Extension, “How to count pollinators for the pollinator census video (approximately 2:38 minute),” click HERE.
Photograph the insect to get a better look for identification purposes.
Count an insect each time it lands on your plant. The same insect might land on the plant multiple times and each landing is counted.
Put Dixie, Gilchrist and Levy counties on the census map! I’ve invited my sister-in-love, niece and husband to participate in GSEPC.
Invite garden enthusiast, family and friends for a pollinator census party. Send me pics of your besties. Good luck with that!

Call 352-486-5131, or email savemygarden@ufl.edu with questions. Until later – Happy Gardening!

USDA, The importance of pollinators, click  external link

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