Flower Visitors to the Plants of Newton and the Arnold Arboretum

• Dr. Richard Primack, Professor of Biology at Boston University, Boston, Mass.
• Hybrid at 6:30pm at Native Plant Trust’s Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Mass.
• “Flower Visitors to the Plants of Newton and the Arnold Arboretum: Can Honeybees and Native Insects Coexist?”
• Abstract: A major question in insect ecology is whether non-native honeybees outcompete native insects, such as bumblebees and butterflies, or if they can coexist. Most studies on flower visitors focus on herbaceous plants; in this study we focus on woody plants at the Arnold Arboretum. For two years, our team of scientists, students, and volunteers observed flower visitors at over 600 plant species at the Arboretum, recording if insects were collecting pollen or nectar. In this talk, I will report on the ecological and evolutionary factors affecting insect visitation patterns and what this suggests in terms of the conservation and management of native insects and plants in New England.

Special Arrangements for May Meeting:

• NEBS members and guests are welcome to come early and bring a picnic supper to enjoy before the meeting
• Admission for Garden in the Woods on Friday, May 1, will be free for NEBS members and guests starting at the 10 AM opening. If arriving before 5 PM, please check in at the Visitors Center/Garden Shop. If arriving after 5 PM, the garden gate will be closed, but there is a call button.
• Parking is available on site. If the lot is full, you can exit the Garden and park on the odd-numbered side of any of the side streets. Please be considerate of the neighbors and don’t park on anyone’s lawn or property.
• Education Building facilities: The presentation will begin here at 6:30 PM, so please finish your garden tour and picnic supper before then. Members and guests may use the outdoor picnic tables on the patio before 5 PM and the indoor space after 5 PM. Restrooms are in this building and the Visitor Center.