The Heartland Bee Newsletter

September 2021 (12th edition)

Introduced Species and Invasive Plants

Every September, Florida beekeepers stack their supers to collect the fall nectar flow: Brazilian pepper. Though it is known in bee circles for its bounty of late season, dark honey, the shrubby tree is one of the most aggressive and widespread invasive plants in the state. After honey bees are done visiting its white flowers, it produces clusters of red berries in December that are dispersed by wildlife and waterways. It is capable of damage in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats.

Due to the virulent nature of the Brazilian peppertree, biological controls have been implemented. After rigorous lab testing to ensure they wouldn’t stray from their intended target, the first wave of Brazilian peppertree thrips were released in 2019. These tiny insects evolved alongside the plant in South America, and eat its new foliage. USDA researchers anticipate these thrips will reduce the growth of this invasive species by eighty percent without negatively affecting native Florida plants and wildlife, on a timeline that spans decades.

Beekeepers across the state were put off by these efforts, citing valid reasons for their skepticism. There are numerous examples of prior biological control releases that have caused more harm than good. There are plenty of other invasive species that arguably deserve higher priority than one that feeds pollinators and wildlife. There are other insects already helping to control the Brazilian peppertree in Florida. Despite this, another biocontrol insect (the yellow Brazilian peppertree leaf galler) has been approved for the same purpose.

While this is a victory for the environment, what it means for honey bees is still unclear. Beekeepers depend upon the wealth of nectar provided by these invasive species to strengthen their colonies before the dry season. No immediate change in honey production is anticipated. The plants that grow to fill the void left by the Brazilian peppertree may not bloom at a similar time of year, if at all. Only time will tell the long-reaching effects of such experimentation. For now, the sweetness of Brazilian pepper honey has been made bitter by the knowledge that it’s only growing rarer.

Here are some alternative pollen and nectar source plants that compete and flower at the same time as the Brazilian peppertree:

Wild coffee (Psychotria nervosa), Coral vine (Antigonon leptopus), Prairie sunflower (Helianthus agrestis), Summer farewell (Petalostemon caroliniense), Camphorweed (Heterotheca subaxillaris), Florida milkweed (Asclepias feayi), Spanish needles (Bidens alba), Patridge pea (Cassia fasciculata), and Mexican clover (Richardia scabra)