Live Free and Pollinate: An Investigation of Native Bees Across New Hampshire Apple Orchards by Shyloh Favreau
As of 2017, New Hampshire’s apple orchards spanned 1,458 acres, hosting a rich assortment of over 50 apple varieties, and ranked as the fifth most cultivated crop by acreage in the state. Since 2006, beekeepers lose an average of 30% of their bees annually, increasing the cost of honeybee rentals for farmers. Consequently, due to these rising costs, there has been a significant shift in focus towards utilizing native bees for their pollination services. This study endeavors to establish a comprehensive statewide census of native bee species within apple orchards during bloom, and investigate whether orchard management practices, surrounding landscapes, and climate serve as predictors for native bee communities across the state. This project involved sampling twenty-two orchards over a span of 17 days in May 2023, ensuring representation from at least two orchards in each of New Hampshire's ten counties.
Shyloh Favreau
serves as the Program Manager for the Food & Agriculture Team at the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension. In this capacity, he oversees the university's soil testing and insect identification service, providing crucial statewide program support for commercial growers. Recently, he has assumed responsibility for the university's tick education program.
Simultaneously, Shyloh is pursuing his master's degree in UNH's Agroecology Lab and the UNH Collection of Insects and Other Arthropods, specializing in melittology—the study of wild bees. His specific focus lies on Andrena, a substantial genus of ground-nesting mining bees. This passion for bees originated during his undergraduate years at Marlboro College, VT, where he dedicated his senior thesis to exploring bee communities and habitat fragmentation.
Shyloh's research seamlessly integrates his fascination with bee taxonomy and morphology with an appreciation for bees' pivotal role in agriculture. His goal is to complete his master's degree by the end of 2024, with aspirations to further his bee-related work through a Ph.D. program.