Finding them in the Ocala National Forest
First described in 2011, the blue calamintha bee, Osmia calaminthae, was known from only four locations on Lake Wales Ridge until museum researcher Chase Kimmel documented new populations in 2020. Over the past two field seasons, Kimmel and field technician Clint Gibson have observed the bee at 11 new locations, including the Ocala National Forest, giving scientists valuable insight into the species’ potential range.
The bee’s primary home, Lake Wales Ridge, is a 150-mile-long sandy spine running down the center of the state, the remnant of ancient islands in Florida’s distant past. The region harbors plant and animal species found nowhere else, but ranks among the nation’s fastest-disappearing ecosystems, with pockets of natural habitat surrounded by citrus groves and suburban neighborhoods.
Scientists discover nest, new northern range of Florida s rare blue calamintha bee – Florida Museum Science
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Otter Tail County child abuse reports plummeted in 2020
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It needs help, it says, to tackle invasive species in the lake. Written By: Karen Tolkkinen | ×
Lake Osakis is one of area lakes affected by pollution from phosphorus. It also has an aquatic invasive plant called curlyleaf pondweed. (Osakis Review file photo)
The Osakis Lakes Association put out a plea on social media recently, looking for members to join its board.
“We are facing some major challenges moving forward,” its post said, citing the loss of retiring board members and the need for tens of thousands of dollars to fight invasive species.
Their plea underscores the difficulties lake associations can face in tackling issues of invasives and pollutants. Lake associations say that lakeshore owners don’t always realize or want the responsibilities that come with living on the lake. Sometimes the lakeshore owners live in other cities or states and when they visit their weekend cabins, they want to relax.