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by Rick Forrester

Year 2022 will be a good year for bees down on the trail as FLMSP is installing native Ohio prairies in Oregonia and south of Fosters. We will be asking for volunteers to help in the next few weeks.

Beginning in March and April, bees will start showing up on the trail looking for tree flower buds and early ground flowers, so, bee sure to look for one or more of the approximately 500 species of bees in Ohio. The photo on the left shows a Bumble Bee (Bombus). A few other common Ohio species are pictured below.

Here's how to easily tell the difference between bees, wasps and flies:
Flies have two wings; bees have four wings. Wasps have four wings, but are very slender, usually hairless, and and don’t carry pollen on their legs. Wasps can sting multiple times whereas bees sting only once and leave the barbed stinger with its poison sack in your skin. The bee will then die. Bees are vegetarian, so if the insect you see is eating another insect, it is a fly or wasp.

Be on the lookout for “swarms” where a bee colony has divided and 50% of the bees with a queen are moving to a new location to start a brand new hive. The swarm will look like a rolling boil of thousands of bees hanging on a tree or fence posts. The bees in the swarm are usually not aggressive, as they are not protecting their territory or a hive at this time.

To find a honey beehive in the woods, pioneers would place sugar water in a cup. When the bee takes her fill (worker bees are females), the bee will head straight for the hive. The pioneer would mark the straight line of the flight. They would then move the sugar water to another location, watch the bee, and mark that line. Where the two lines intersect is where the hive is located. The hives are usually in a burned-out hollow tree.

Bee thankful for bees as they are critical to our food supply. Next time you are on the trail, take a moment to spot some of our flying furry friends!

Below: 

Honey Bee (Apis mellifera),  Leaf Cutting Bee (Megachile)
Sweat Bee type 1 (Halictidae), Seat Bee type 2 (Halictidae)

More bee identification photos are available at Pollinator.org

Some source material from Ohio State University in cooperation with Pollinator Partnership.

March 2022

Do you want to get away from it all to relax and unwind?  How about Florida?  Cozumel?  Jamaica?  I was thinking of a place much closer to home—the Little Miami Scenic Trail.  The trail is a quiet place these days.  Short days and cold temperatures have led many of its users to hibernate, awaiting the return of spring.  Their loss can be your gain, but you have to know how to use the trail safely in winter.  Here are some important pointers.

• Dress for conditions:  Wear multiple layers, with the top layer being one you can unzip if you get too warm.  Wear or carry gloves or mittens and a hat, headband or balaclava.
• Stay on two feet:  Wear sturdy, non-slip footwear.  Wear crampons or micro-spikes over athletic shoes for extra traction.  In icy conditions, take shorter steps, keeping your weight over your feet.
• Stay in touch:  Carry your cellphone so that you can summon help for yourself or others and can report your whereabouts and timing to family or friends.
• See and be seen:  Carry a light to avoid tripping as dusk and darkness fall.  Wear reflective clothing so that fellow trail users and cars can see you.  Be especially careful when crossing roads in the dark.
• Use sound judgment:  Discretion is the better part of valor.  Stay home when conditions including ice or extreme wind chill make for unsafe usage.  There will be other days to enjoy the trail.  Note that Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), which owns and manages the trail, does not clear the trail of snow or ice since doing so would suggest the trail is safe to use.  Evaluate trail conditions for yourself and use the trail at your own risk.

Winter days spent on the trail can offer some unexpected surprises.  Certain sights—a house tucked in the woods a trailside lake—are only visible this time of year, with trees devoid of leaves.  Braving the elements, stretching your legs while breathing the cool crisp air, has its own rewards.  Stay warm, stay safe and enjoy the Little Miami Scenic Trail in winter.

by Erick Wikum

January 2022

Are you ready for some baseball--oops, warmer weather--to get back out on the Little Miami Scenic Trail? Before you take to the trail this late winter and early spring, review this checklist to ensure you are ready for a safe and enjoyable experience.

o Cross with Care: Come to a complete stop before at road crossing stop signs. Never assume that the road will be clear and that you will not need to stop, no matter how much you are enjoying making time on the trail. Check both ways, looking left, then right, then left again. Do not cross until you are entirely confident that you can do so safely. Cross quickly while continuing to observe the state of traffic.

o Check your Equipment: Are your bicycle brakes, wheels and tires in good working order? Consider taking your bike to a local shop for a tune-up. If your helmet is more than 5-10 years old or has been involved in a crash, replace it. Ensure your helmet is properly sized and adjusted to fit level on your head and low on your forehead.

o Review Trail Etiquette: Announce “passing on your left” and provide a wide berth when passing others. Slow down when approaching others, especially those with young children or pets. When stopped, move off of the trail. Walk or ride in single file when encountering others.

Warm days are coming soon. The trail beckons. Baseball will have to wait.

Erick Wikum
March 2022