Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) is an incredible magnet for pollinators.
A few mornings ago I found a surprise among the fragrant blooms of my milkweed. I’m accustomed to seeing Honey Bees, knowing they are not native to North America but I hadn’t given thought to there being any other world travelers visiting my mountain.
Several Giant Resin Bees (Megachile sculpturalis) were collecting pollen. These bees are native to eastern Asia and arrived on our shores, accidentally, and identified in 1994. The word “giant” in its common name is appropriate since these measured in at close to an inch.
Giant Resin Bees look for nooks and crannies, crevices and holes in trees, downed logs and debris for a place to nest. They will sometimes displace native Carpenter Bees, finding the holes the Carpenter Bees create the perfect spot for their nest. It is still unknown whether these nonnative bees will have a deleterious effect on our native bees. Stay tuned.