Episode 6

Our Weird Relationship with Insects with Guest Chris Helzer

Published on: 10th May, 2023

Our Wierd Relationship with Insects

Episode Introduction

In today's episode, we chat with Chris Helzer, director of science for the Nature Conservancy about our misconceptions surrounding bugs, some fascinating examples of bees, beetles, et al., and why we should merge beauty and utility in our gardens.

Host Stephanie Barelman

Stephanie Barelman is the founder of the Bellevue Native Plant Society, a midwest motivational speaker, and host of the Plant Native Nebraska Podcast.

Guest Chris Helzer

Chris Helzer is Director of Science for The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska, where he conducts research and evaluates prairie management and restoration work. He is also dedicated to raising awareness about the value of prairies through his photography, writing and presentations. Chris is author of The Prairie Ecologist blog, and two books: The Ecology and Management of Prairies in the Central United States and Hidden Prairie: Photographing Life in One Square Meter. He is also a frequent contributor to NEBRASKAland magazine and other publications. Chris and his family live in Aurora, Nebraska.

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Episode Content

Chris' photography

-Check it out here: https://prairieecologist.com/

Land Management

We need to be responsible stewards. Every landscape needs management to be its most efficient, especially since us humans have introduced invasive species to habitats. Land management people use tools like fire and methods to remove these invasive species to keep the land healthy.

Bug Terror

Only a few species round here are truly dangerous- think brown recluse, ticks, or disease carrying mosquitos. But Chris is really trying to let you know- they aren't out to get you. It's not all about you. I'm looking at you, Babs.

Should sci-fi writers keep depicting aliens as insect-like?

When we learn more about insects and we learn to tolerate them better, they stop being alien and they start being fascinating.

Is it a bad characterization to label insects as either beneficial or pests?

Yes! This is not only lazy but giving very incomplete info. Are we strictly divided into pools of bad and good people? No, of course not!

Bugs are bugs. They are diverse and they provide diverse functions. Ignorance is why people want to file things into black and white categories. Don't be ignorant, Babs, it's not a good look for you.

Misconceptions about bees and wasps

They are not out to get you. Let's say it together: "THEY-ARE-NOT-OUT-TO-GET-YOU." Use that as your mantra at yoga tonight. It's probably the most meaningful thing we will tell you here on our podcast, and glab dannit, it's true.

Attracting bees does not equal being stung.

Wasps feed insects to young, they gorge on nectar for themselves.

Most bees are solitary, very few bees are social. If you can have a heart for single moms, you can have a heart for hard-working momma bees.

Fascinating insects

Oil beetles- hitch a ride under disguise into enemy territory to feed their kids and win. Sad for the bees that fall prey, but awesome for science.

Cudweed Grasshoppers- Did you know that grasshoppers ate grass? I sure didn't.

Migrating butterflies and moths- Would you fly thousands of miles to get married and multiply? That's actually a bad example because they keep cranking out new seasons of Love is Blind, so apparently we would...

Host Plants! Think milkweed is the only host plant? Think again! Chris discusses pasque flower, pitcher sage, prairie sage, and narrow leaf penstemon but there are thousands more of these kinds of relationships.

Bugs Stephanie likes to see- mimic bees, goldenrod soldier beetles, ash mead's digger wasps or bent-shielded bieseiger wasps or whatever they actually are, I am stumped... the clear wing hummingbird moth, dragonflies, and sweet sweet buzzy bumblebees.

Should I care about generalist insects and specialist insects?

Yes! Ecosystems are made up of diverse populations of creatures and so planting a garden of various native wildflowers and grasses will cater to generalists who need diversity and also to specialists who need some of the specific plants you have planted.

Can people really plant plants that attract bugs? Who would be crazy enough to do that?

We are the crazies and we want you to be big flaming weirdos too! Pollinators are bugs, people. Yes, sometimes they are birds and bats. But most of them are bugs!

Chris' recommendations for bug-attracting natives!

Sunflowers- stiff, Maximilian, sawtooth, Jerusalem. Just know that perennial sunflowers are aggressive, okay bae? Give 'em some room and don't be mad when they make babies.

Prairie clover- purple or white, take your pick

Spiderwort- I someone to bring some over and forcibly plant them in my garden, because somehow I still haven't gotten any

Flowering shrubs- redbud, serviceberry, sandcherry, native rose Rosa Carolina

Swamp Milkweed- fragrant and not crazy, basically your ideal qualities in a life partner

The mantra again

Bugs are not out to get you.

Thank you Chris, let's keep persuading people to rethink bugs!

Additional content related to this episode:

What makes a plant native?

http://bonap.net/fieldmaps Biota of North America North American Plant Atlas database-select Nebraska

https://bellevuenativeplants.org Bellevue Native Plant Society

native (wild type) vs. nativar/native cultivar (cultivated by humans for desirable characteristics)

On the Web

BONAP aforementioned

BNPS aforementioned

http://www.facebook.com/groups/bellevuenativeplantsociety- BNPS on Facebook

Books & Authors

Rick Darke- The Living Landscape

Douglas Tallamy- Professor and Chair of the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Entomology at the University of Delaware, author of The Living Landscape, Nature's Best Hope, naturalist, and curator of "Homegrown National Park". Link to Nature's Best Hope book here:

Enrique Salmon- Iwigara

Daniel Moerman -Native American Ethnobotany

Heather Holm- https://www.pollinatorsnativeplants.com

Native Plants of the Midwest

Planting in a Post-Wild World

Jon Farrar's Field Guide to Wildflowers of Nebraska