7/9/21 - Physalis

If you are growing Tomatillos or Ground-cherries in your garden, you probably aren’t paying much attention to them until the fruit ripens, but you should be! There are four bee species only found on plants in this genus (Physalis). If you don’t have a garden with these plants, you can still get in on the fun. There is a widespread, native species in the genus, but it is often inconspicuous - growing in the understory of weedy fields, particularly in “poor” or sandy soil. If you can locate a good patch of either the cultivated or the wild varieties, you will likely find at least one of the specialist bees. Alternatively, there is a distinctive cuckoo bee that specializes on one of these species and is often easier to find than its host.

Learn more about the 5 Physalis associated bees here: https://val.vtecostudies.org/projects/vtbees/physalis/

Posted on 09 de julho de 2021, 11:45 AM by beeboy